Dressed as a boy to get an education


In the 1990s, when Zahra Joya was growing up in Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban took away her right to go to school – that was only for boys. Today, she fights for the rights of Afghan girls and women through journalism. This is an extract from her foreword in our new book.


‘I was born in a faraway village in Bamyan Province in the centre of Afghanistan. In my country many families want sons, not daughters. That’s because many people wrongly believe that boys have more value than girls. So when I was born some of the older people in my family were sad and ashamed that I was a baby girl. Yet I have never, ever felt sad or ashamed of who I am. All my life, I have believed I could be whoever I wanted to be. When I was growing up, the Taliban were in charge of our country. The Taliban are dangerous people who use religion to gain power and who don’t believe that women have


CHILD RIGHTS IN NUMBERS


83%


of British children aged 8 to 15 know little or nothing about their rights


19%


of these children said they didn’t know anything at all Source: 2021 YouGov poll


Fewer than 24% of UK parents know that children


have more rights than adults 74%


of these parents want their children to learn about human rights in school Source: 2024 YouGov poll


any rights. Boys could go to school but girls weren’t allowed to get an education, and had to stay home. But I was always interested in school and learning. My parents knew I was clever, and they supported my desire to go to school. My mother made me some boy’s clothes and I walked with my uncles to their school and when I got there I pretended I was a boy called Mohammad… education changed my life. The solidarity of my parents and my uncles makes me think of a beautiful and meaningful proverb that says: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ In 2001, the Taliban were defeated – for a


while. The laws changed and girls were allowed to go to school. Later I was able to go to university. I became a journalist, often the only woman in the newsroom. Then in 2021, the Taliban took back power and I was afraid for my life. Like countless others, I and my siblings became refugees, leaving behind our parents and homeland. Now we adapt to a new life in London.


I share my story as one of millions forced to leave our homes. Every child should be free to enjoy their rights, no matter who they are, so I hope my story shows that we can all help make the world a better place by uniting and standing up for each other. Whoever we are, child or adult, we all have a role to play.’ n


Buy the book


These Rights are Your Rights by Nicky Parker at Amnesty International and illustrated by Sue Cheung (Andersen Press), £7.99. Ages 8+. In bookshops or order direct at amnestyshop.org.uk


This is a follow-up to our book for teenagers, Know Your Rights and Claim Them, co-written by Angelina Jolie, Geraldine Van Bueren and Nicky Parker (Andersen Press), £7.99, available as above.


WINTER 2024 AMNESTY 31 Zahra Joya


runs Rukhshana Media from the UK, reporting on life for Afghan girls and women under the Taliban: https:// rukhshana.com/en/


See page 2


© Sue Cheung


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