Manizha Bakhtari Receives OSCE Annual Award

This award is presented annually to a permanent member or an Asian or Mediterranean partner of the OSCE for extraordinary activities in the areas of human rights, women's rights, and issues related to freedom of expression.

In response to receiving this award, Bakhtari said, "I dedicate this award to the women and girls of Afghanistan and declare my commitment to supporting them without expecting any reward."

The Afghan ambassador to Austria added, "For the past three years, I have persistently and continuously advocated for the women and girls of Afghanistan within this organization and in my work area in Vienna. I have organized several major programs focused on Afghan women within this organization and elsewhere. I have no expectation of reward or prize because I am merely fulfilling my human and civic responsibility towards the women and girls of Afghanistan."

Bakhtari serves as Afghanistan’s official representative to the OSCE. The organization’s members nominated her for this award due to her efforts to promote human rights in Afghanistan.

It is noteworthy that the OSCE is the largest intergovernmental or international organization in the field of security issues, with activities that include supporting human rights, press freedom, free and fair elections, and arms control.

Bakhtari received this award at a time when the Taliban in Afghanistan have, for nearly three years, banned girls above sixth grade from attending school. The group's Ministry of Higher Education has also barred Afghan women and girls from attending universities and educational centers. These actions by the Taliban have resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education.

Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

Despite global reactions and condemnations, the Taliban have not yet retracted their decisions regarding the prohibition of education and work for women.