Nilofar Sakhi

Nilofar Sakhi (Persian: نيلوفر سخی‎) is an Afghan peace, human rights, and development practitioner. She is the former chief executive and executive director at the American University of Afghanistan. She is also the former Country Director of Open Society Foundation-Afghanistan. She is also the founder and former executive director of Women Activities and Social Services Association (WASSA), the first women's NGO in Herat, Afghanistan.

Early life and education

Nilofar Sakhi holds a Phd from George Mason University. She also holds a master's degree in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, and MA in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding from Eastern Mennonite University. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Sakhi is a Fulbright Scholar(2007).

Career

Nilofar Sakhi is a scholar-practitioner in development sector. She is a lecturer at George Mason University. Sakhi began her career as a political education officer in Aurat Foundation, a national NGO in Pakistan. Sakhi is the founder and former executive director of a national NGO WASSA, the first women's NGO in Herat, Afghanistan founded in 2002. While there she established the Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at WASSA in 2008. Sakhi remains the chairperson of the board at WASSA.[1] She is the former executive director at American University of Afghanistan, and former country director of Open Society Afghanistan.[2] Prior to serving as country director she was the Senior Consultant on Rule of Law, Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Women's Rights at the Open Society Institute in Afghanistan. She has served as a fellow at both the International Center for Tolerance Education and the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative in 2010, and as a visiting fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, Columbia University. She is also on the International Steering Committee at Afghanistan: Pathways to Peace[3][4]

At the dedication of ICAWED Sakhi was praised for her work promoting the rights of women by former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush. The institute also houses the Laura Bush Library and Resource Center and was funded by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations.[5] The work of the center focuses on providing the tools and resources necessary to promote women's rights and opportunities in business and government in Afghanistan.[6] During her time with ICAWED she has met with several dignitaries, including United States Secretary of State John Kerry [7] Her work has focused largely on advocating at the national and international level for improvements in public policies involving the rights of women and peaceful economic and political transition.

Speaking of the future of women's rights in a Voice of America interview Sakhi noted that the next generation of women have strong role models in current Afghan society,

“Looking at women talking about their political rights in parliament, looking at women entering into business and having trade in Malaysia and Dubai, and looking at women who are successful personalities internationally of raising Afghanistan voices. This gives an image.”[8]

External sources

References
  1. "Advisory Board". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. "Nilofar Sakhi: Justice and Democracy in Afghanistan". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  3. "Nilofar Sakhi". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. "Asia 21 Fellows, Class of 2010". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. Van Wie, Sara (5 June 2013). "Laura Bush Resource Center and Library Opens in Kabul". Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  6. "November luncheon features Afghan women's rights activists". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  7. "Afghan Women Help Drive Resurgent Economy". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  8. "Afghan Fashion Designer Creates Dresses, Jobs". 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
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