Fawzia Koofi

Afghan women's rights advocate who defied Taliban threats to serve in parliament

Fawzia Koofi is a trailblazing Afghan politician and women's rights activist who has consistently challenged gender norms and Taliban oppression since the 1990s. Born in 1975 in Badakhshan Province, she became the first woman to run for Afghanistan's presidency in 2014 despite receiving death threats. As a member of parliament from 2005-2015, she championed legislation to protect women from violence and improve healthcare access. Her 2012 memoir My Life in the Shadows of the Taliban details her survival after her father's assassination by the Taliban in 1996.

Founder of the Secure Tomorrow Organization, Koofi has established over 50 women's health centers across Afghanistan. Her work earned her the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize nomination and recognition by the International Women of Courage Award. Despite multiple assassination attempts, she continues advocating through her official website and partnerships with UN Women.