FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Global Path Connections Champions Afghan Women’s Empowerment Through Education

Vienna, Austria – May 22, 2025– The Afghan Cultural Association in Austria (AKIS), in collaboration with the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC), Österreichische Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit, and the City of Vienna, will host the “Apartheid! Empowering Afghan Women and Girls through Education” conference and reception on May 23–24, 2025. This event coincides with the 29th anniversary of AKIS’s founding, the 25th anniversary of Banu Magazine in Europe, and the third Rabia Balkhi Award, uniting leaders worldwide to advocate for Afghan women’s rights through education.

A Global Call to Action for Afghan Women In remarks shared ahead of the conference, the president of AKIS articulated the organization’s resolute position: “We convene this conference at a time when over 20 million Afghan women and girls endure poverty, systematic discrimination, violence, and gender apartheid, denied their fundamental human right to education, work, and societal participation. The international community’s response has been inadequate, often limited to empty promises. Yet, Afghan women, both in Afghanistan and in the diaspora, refuse to be silenced. With courage and determination, we have established self-organized educational initiatives, such as private and online schools, driven by our own resources, heart, and responsibility.” Held at Vienna City Hall on May 23 and Rathaus Wien 1210 on May 24, the conference will feature panels, workshops, and the Rabia Balkhi Award Ceremony, honoring Afghan women in literature, journalism, and activism. Live streaming on Facebook (@AKISEU) ensures global reach.

Highlighting Resilience and Solidarity The conference spotlights initiatives like Woman Online University (WOU), accessible at https://womanonlineuniversity.com, which has provided free education to over 17,000 Afghan girls across 16 faculties since 2022. Supported by 700 volunteer professors and two electronic libraries, WOU’s online learning model—delivered via Google Meet, Zoom, and YouTube—offers a lifeline, alongside psychological support for challenges like depression and forced marriages. AKIS expressed gratitude to WOU for their moral support, noting, “Such signs of solidarity give us hope and strength on our path.” The event further celebrates the global Afghan diaspora, with attendees from the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Australia, and Pakistan, reflecting the movement’s worldwide recognition.

Networking and Cultural Resistance Attendees, including Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig and representatives from VIDC and AKIS, will explore education’s transformative power through discussions and workshops, fostering partnerships with NGOs, EU institutions, and the diaspora. The Rabia Balkhi Award honors trailblazing Afghan women, a testament to cultural resistance and collective engagement, as AKIS emphasized: “This conference and the third Rabia Balkhi Award are a symbol of our cultural resistance and commitment, honoring the pioneers of Afghan women’s movements whose voices will echo into the future.”

Join the Movement “This conference is a turning point for Afghan women’s visibility,” said an AKIS
spokesperson. “We invite the global community to stand with us in building a future of equality through education.” This impactful campaign, orchestrated by Global Path Connections, a UK-based management consultancy, leverages their expertise in global connectivity to amplify this cause, demonstrating their commitment to social impact alongside their core services in international strategy and collaboration—learn more at https://www.globalpathconnections.com.

Attend: Join in-person at Vienna City Hall (May 23) or Rathaus Wien 1210 (May 24), or watch live on Facebook via @AKISEU.
Connect: Contact AKIS at +43663603846549 or visit https://www.akiseu.org for details.
Amplify: Share the event using #SupportAfghanWomen, #AfghanWomenEmpowerment, and #EducationForAfghanGirls.
Media Contact:
Afghan Cultural Association in Austria (AKIS)
Phone: +43663603846549
Website: https://www.akiseu.org

About the Afghan Cultural Association in Austria (AKIS)
Celebrating its 29th anniversary, AKIS is dedicated to preserving Afghan culture and
advocating for Afghan rights in Austria, fostering dialogue to support the Afghan diaspora
and address global challenges like gender apartheid. Learn more at https://www.akiseu.org.