World refugee day: tell their stories

While hotspots Include Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Palestine, the trip affects all regions of the world.

Forward for World Refugee DayFriday, the UN highlights the importance of solidarity with refugees by support, solutions and the power of narration.

Zahra Nader: Reports of exile

Before World Refugee Day, UN News spoke with Zahra Nader, refugee, journalist and militant of women’s rights in Afghanistan.

At six, Nader and his family fled to Iran after the Taliban first took power, where she was denied access to education and was confronted with racism.

Back in Afghanistan for years later, the striking contrast between life in exile and the opportunity to frequent school triggered his passion for journalism and plea.

In August 2021, when she was continuing a doctorate in Canada, the Taliban regained control, breaking her dreams to go home to teach and carry out work on the ground.

“” I felt as a journalist who grew up in Kabul, who became a journalist there, I have the right and the responsibility to tell these stories of women in Afghanistan“She said.” It is really inhuman, for half of the population of a country to undress from their fundamental human rights because they were born of women. »»

Channel this pain in action, she founded Zan TimesA editorial room led by Afghan women by documenting human rights violations in Afghanistan, in particular those that affect women.

Despite limited funding and growing risks for his journalists, Nader continues to work to ensure that Afghan women are seen and heard.

She described the situation in Afghanistan as “The most serious crisis in women’s rights of our time», Call insufficient international action and warn that inaction enhances the Taliban and its misogynist ideologies.

Despite his trauma and his current inability to come back, Nader remains optimistic and urges young Afghan women to resist by learning and preparing a better future.

“I hope and I also want to be part of this change, to imagine a better future for Afghanistan, and make my part for this future to happen.”

Barthelemy Mwanza: from survival to management

THURSDAY, United Nations video Presented the story of Barthelemy Mwanza, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is now a leader and defender of young people.

At 18, Mwanza was taken between the pressure to join an armed tribal group involved in the national conflict and his father’s plea to stay outside the fight, a decision that could have cost him his life.

To survive, he fled to the Tongogara refugee camp in Zimbabwe.

Emotionally overwhelmed to be moved from his country of origin, “it really made me cry to say” where am I? “,” Said Mwanza. “Later, I said to myself,” Until when will I continue to cry? ” Shouldn’t I look at the future? »»

He started to volunteer Hcrleading more than 5,000 young refugees thanks to initiatives to tackle sexist violence, young people and climate action.

Now reinstalled in Ohio, in the United States, Mwanza continues to collaborate with UNHCR to raise refugee voices, inspire climate action and share its history.

Empower and plead for refugees on a world scene “was one of my dreams, and now I can really see that it comes to life,” he concluded.