11 OCTOBER 2026 / INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL
A public appeal for solidarity, rights and action
The freedom to learn, work and shape our futures must belong equally to our Afghan sisters. Join us in building a lasting solidarity movement with Afghan girls and women.
WHY WE MUST ACT
Afghanistan is the only country where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education. The European Parliament and UN human rights experts have described the Taliban’s systematic oppression of girls and women as gender apartheid. Girls and women must be free to study, work and participate in public life.
OUR SHARED APPEAL
We stand with Afghan girls and women and their right to determine their own futures. We call for the restoration of their rights and sustained international action. We urge the EU, UNESCO, UNHCR, UN Women and governments to fulfill their political and moral responsibility through education, protection and support for women’s leadership. We also call on citizens, civil society and women’s movements everywhere to mobilize alongside Afghan girls and women, amplify their voices and sustain collective action for their rights.
ENDORSE AND SHARE THE APPEAL
Add your endorsement and tell us how you would like to contribute using the Google Form below. Share this appeal with friends, colleagues, women’s organizations, student groups, universities and community networks, and invite them to join.
HELP TURN SOLIDARITY INTO OPPORTUNITIES
Donate towards scholarships. Help an Afghan girl or young woman continue her education and shape her own future. Supporting education is one practical part of our wider commitment to the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan. Every contribution matters.
Make voices heard. Organize a discussion or solidarity event. Amplify Afghan women’s own priorities and ask decision-makers for concrete commitments.
Share skills and networks. Offer mentoring, language support, professional contacts or internships through trusted organizations.
Keep the movement growing. Connect local groups across borders and sustain engagement beyond 11 October. Afghan women should help shape and lead the movement.
A shared horizon: Together, we can expand educational opportunities for Afghan women abroad and support the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan, advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and UNHCR’s 15by30 goal.
HOW WILL YOU STAND WITH AFGHAN WOMEN?
Add your endorsement, tell us how you would like to contribute, and leave your contact details.
Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZfuPAK2NHnTSi5Ls9 | Questions: board@nexus3.pt
Education restores hope and opens futures
Afghan women share what access to education in Portugal through the Nexus 3.0 Beacon of Hope program has made possible. Their accounts have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Afsoon — The freedom to dream again
Returning to a classroom in Portugal after four years felt like coming back to life. I could learn alongside others, make friends, and belong to a community again. Since then, I have learned a new language and grown in confidence and resilience. In Afghanistan, education helped me survive; here, it gives me hope and the freedom to dream. I want to use this opportunity to improve the lives of women in Afghanistan and beyond
Mahshid — Hope, strength and responsibility
I arrived in Portugal uncertain and afraid. The journey has been difficult, but education has kept me moving forward. Today, I am stronger, more confident and hopeful about my future. Without this opportunity, I might still be in Afghanistan, unable to pursue my studies or fulfill my dreams. I feel a responsibility to make the most of my education—for myself and for the Afghan girls who cannot attend school or university. I hope to help create opportunities for them one day.
Arezo — The same chance for every girl
I wish for every girl and woman to enjoy her rights, especially the right to education. I hope those who cannot study today will one day have the same opportunity I had to build a better future
Aziza — Learning from my peers
The scholarship I received changed my life. It allowed me to complete an MBA and pursue my dreams. My class brought together 16 students from different countries, each with their own culture and experiences. I learned from my professors and from my peers. Being part of such a diverse group was a learning experience unlike any other.
What education makes possible
Benazir and Yasaman’s NeoLife AI team won first place in the Poliempreende 2026 competition at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, qualifying to represent the institution nationally. Their infant wellness monitoring prototype illustrates what access to education can make possible.
Help an Afghan girl or young woman continue her education
Contribute towards scholarships, offer your skills, or open doors through your networks. Every contribution can help create an opportunity to study.
Together, we can help a young woman shape her own future.
MAKE A GIFT: PT50 0018 0003 5639 7342 0201 5
