A 17-year-old girl, who is prohibited from speaking publicly in her own country, has won the prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize for her courageous advocacy for the rights of Afghan girls. Despite facing harsh restrictions in Afghanistan, Nila Ibrahimi’s dedication to empowering young women and girls in Afghanistan has garnered global recognition.

Ibrahimi was honoured for her "courageous efforts to advocate for the rights of girls" in Afghanistan, where the Taliban's oppressive policies have silenced women since their return to power in 2021.

Before the Taliban takeover, Ibrahimi gained significant attention online by using her platform to challenge a ban on schoolgirls singing in public, imposed by Kabul's education authorities. Ibrahimi recorded herself singing and her brother shared the video on social media, drawing support for her cause.

"I am fighting for the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan, who continue to face unimaginable challenges under the Taliban’s rule," Ibrahimi said during the award ceremony in Amsterdam. 

Ibrahimi's "IAmMySong" campaign gained widespread support, and within weeks, it led to the overturning of the ban on singing songs. Her campaign garnered support for women's and girls' rights in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. 

Ibrahimi Fled Afghanistan

Ibrahimi was only 15 when the Taliban moved into Kabul and seized control of Afghanistan, following the chaotic withdrawal of US and allied forces after two decades of occupation. Under the shadow of a returning theocratic regime, Ibrahimi and her family sought safety, with the support of the 30 Birds Foundation, escaping first to Pakistan and then to Canada. 

During a human rights summit in Geneva last year, Ibrahimi expressed concern for those left behind in Afghanistan. "While I feel safer in my new home, every single day I think of those girls left behind in Afghanistan," she said.