Empower The Voice

Afshan Afridi

"I encourage these women to take part in all normal activities – though it might not be as easy – still they should not give up as it is their only way to decide how they want to live their life - a dependent life hiding all life behind doors or an inspiring one."

National Coordinator, National Forum of Women with Disabilities Member | Human Rights Commission – KP chapter | Founder & CEO of Collective Alliance for the Rights of Young Girls with Disabilities

Afshan Afridi is a disability rights activist and researcher from Darra Adamkhel. Being a polio survivor, she was able to look past her disability and worked hard through school, and despite the lacking infrastructure and stigma in the society, was able to obtain a degree in microbiology. She is now a respected researcher in the area. She started her work with NFWWD in 2013 as a provincial coordinator due to her own experiences with disability and the obstacles faced by girls and young women. Due to the lack of spaces for women with disabilities, she established the Collective Alliance for the Rights of Young Girls with Disabilities. They work at a grassroots level to build all-inclusive platforms for education and healthcare. Her work, which started from a rural area, has taken her to international forums, including those focused on CRPD but her message remains the same, and that is that people with disabilities should be leading their movements.

key achievements

  • Huner-e-Hawa award, Government of KP
  • Young Energetic Soul Award, Government of KP.
  • Award for ending violence against women and girls in the areas of KP and FATA.

Area of focus

  • Working on the rights for education
  • Championing workshops on gender equality and disability rights
  • Gender-based violence prevention and advocacy
  • Disability-inclusive development in KP and FATA.