TRAILBLAZER
Name : Fawzia Koofi Job Title : Former Republic Peace Negotiator and first female Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Afghanistan Company : Afghan Parliament
Fawzia Koofi has achieved several firsts – being the first girl in her family to attend school and achieve a Masters degree , then becoming the first woman in Afghanistan to serve as deputy speaker in the Afghanistan parliament .
Throughout her 16 years working in the Afghan government , Fawzia has made the endurance of Afghan women an international concern and has helped untold levels of women and girls receive an education .
Now a widow , Fawzia is living as a refugee with her two teenage daughters . But Fawzia plans to return to her homeland and has faith in the Afghan people .
“ One of the things not reported , on is the transformed generation , a generation that wants to live in harmony and peace ”, says Fawzia .
Across the world , men are more likely to die by suicide than women , yet in Afghanistan , 80 % of suicide attempts are made by women .
87 % of Afghan women are victims of physical , sexual or psychological abuse .
18 January 2022