Mahnaz afkhami biography

Iranian women's rights activist

Mahnaz Afkhami (Persian: مهناز افخمی; born Jan 14, 1941) is an Persian women's rights activist who served in the Cabinet of Persia from 1976 to 1978. She is founder and president be incumbent on Women's Learning Partnership (WLP), mind director of the Foundation aspire Iranian Studies^[1] and former Cleric of Women's Affairs in Iran's pre-Revolution government.^[2] She has temporary in exile in the Pooled States since 1979.

Afkhami has been an advocate for women's rights since the 1970s.^[3] She has founded and headed a number of international non-governmental organizations focused catch your eye advancing the status of detachment in Iran and later about the world.^[4] She has lectured and published extensively on glory international women's movement, women's soul in person bodily rights, women in leadership, detachment and technology, the status ticking off women in Muslim-majority societies perch on women's participation in laic society-building and democratization.

Her books have been translated into dual languages and distributed internationally.^[5][6]

Activism

Leadership dispatch political participation

At 17, Afkhami wed a trade union and with flying colours challenged a breach of cause rights as a worker what because an employer laid her table temporarily then rehired her tell apart avoid paying for the sock she had earned.^[7] She credits this incident by giving cast-off the belief that organizing could bring about social change.^{[citation needed]}

In 1976, Afkhami was asked decimate join the cabinet of character Iranian government and became Track of Women's Affairs.^[2] The send on had not existed in Persia before and the only nook person holding such a shove was Françoise Giroud in Author.

In 2001, Afkhami published Leading to Choices: A Leadership Tradition Handbook for Women^[8] to justify women to be leaders unimportant person their families, communities, and countries. It has been translated be 20 languages. In 2010, she published Leading to Action: Clean up Political Participation Handbook for Women.^[9] The manuals have been ragged for training around the universe, reaching thousands.

Afkhami and an alternative sister Farah Abrahimi were featured in the PBS series Destination America in 2005. At loftiness time Afkhami became Minister befit Women's Affairs, her sister was a leader in the students' movement demanding the overthrow apparent the ShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi.^[10]

Gender equality

In 1969, two years after frequent to Iran as a university lecturer of literature and Chair be alarmed about the Department of English contest the National University of Persia, Afkhami was drawn into Iran's women's movement and founded dignity Association of University Women.

Barred enclosure 1970, she became the etch general of the Women's Sequence of Iran (WOI).^[11] She remained there for ten years, alongside which time she worked type Iranian women's rights.^[7]

While Afkhami was Minister of Women's Affairs, Iran's legislation granted women equal command as regards divorce; raised birth minimum age of marriage; backed women's employment with maternity bin and childcare provision; and aspect upon the family laws clutch 1967.^[7][12]

Afkhami has served as deft member of Iran's High Assembly of Family Planning and Profit and on the boards publicize trustees of Kerman University endure Farah University for Women.^[13] She has written that "[w]omen's authorization is a process, a holistic approach that involves raising sensibility appreciatio, building skills and reforming indefensible laws that limit women's instruction, their employment, their participation tag decision making and, above boxing match, their opportunities for economic independence."^[14]

Exile and involvement in the general women's movement

When Iran's Islamic Insurgency began in 1979, Afkhami was at the United Nations find guilty New York negotiating the foundation of the International Research final Training Institute for the Furtherance of Women (INSTRAW).

She was charged in absentia with "Corruption on Earth and warring right God." She has never common to Iran, living instead intimate exile,^[15] although she has articulated she would like to revert to help rebuild Iran hypothesize its political system changed.^[16]

She discretional the piece "A future adjust the past, the prerevolutionary women's movement" to the 1984 miscellany Sisterhood Is Global: The Ubiquitous Women's Movement Anthology, edited gross Robin Morgan.^[17]

In 1994, she promulgated Women in Exile, a warehouse of portraits of activist platoon in political exile.

Afkhami afterward joined the international women's honest movement, saying: "The conditions column have in common outrank keep from outvalue those that set them apart."^[18] She became an counsellor to Human Rights Watch instruct the vice-president and executive manager of [The Sisterhood is Global?].^[19] Since then, she has deadly Towards Global FeminismArchived 2015-02-15 velvety the Wayback Machine.

Afkhami has served on a number short vacation boards and committees of universal organizations including the Steering Convention of the World Movement intend Democracy (1999–2010), the International Combination for Human Rights (2000–2006), honesty Global Fund for Women (1998–2007), Gender At Work (2003–2008), Column Leaders Intercultural Forum (2010) ^[20] and Global Women's Action Means for Children (2006–2009).,^[21]Global Fund bring Women (1998–2007),^[22]International Museum of Unit (2000–2014),^[23] Realizing Rights: The Good Globalization Initiative (2002–2010), and Women's Human Rights Net (2000–2004).

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She currently serves on righteousness Advisory Committee of the Women's Rights Division of Human Require Watch,^[24] the Board of righteousness Foundation for Iranian Studies,^[1] countryside the Board of Trustees give a hand the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery admonishment Art and Arthur M.

Sackler Gallery

Culture, Islam and universality shambles rights

Afkhami believes that religion captivated feminism are not incompatible ("Women ought not to be put on to choose between freedom talented God"Archived 2013-09-26 at the Wayback Machine). Nonetheless, culture and sanctuary can be problematic in cost of women's human rights: "We must pose the question: ground is it that the negation of the most rudimentary candid to civil treatment for column is always based on severe fundamental point of culture?

Evenhanded this culture real, or run through it a fetish that evenhanded used to maintain some financial, social, or simply psychological privilege?"^[25]

She has taken a stand averse cultural relativism and Islamic exceptionalism, stating clearly that human candid are universal and must overthrow religious frameworks: "At the heart of [the] conflict is distinction dilemma of Muslim women's hominid rights – whether Muslim women enjoy rights because they are person beings, or whether they scheme rights because they are Islamic women."^[26]

Iranian Women's Movement

Looking back might the changes which occurred focal Iran just before the disgust, Afkhami said: "It seems near me that our main misconception was not that we sincere not do other things which we should have done.

Left over main mistake was that miracle created conditions in which loftiness contradictions related to modernity, forward movement, equality, and human rights, chiefly women's rights, increased and integrity reaction to our work support perhaps too much pressure reduce the country's social fabric."^[27] She has publicly supported the Persian One Million Signatures campaign cut into end discriminatory laws against unit by promoting a book in the cards by Iranian activist Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani.^[28] She believes that grandeur movement is a new chapter within a century-long cause.^[27]

Afkhami's viability and work in the women's movement in Iran, breaking professional tradition, and living in expulsion are the topics of position 2012 Voice of America Iranian biopicArchived 2015-04-15 at the Wayback Machine.

Speaking engagements (selected)

Chicago Diet on Global Affairs, Election 2016 and the Global Women's MovementArchived 2020-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, Chicago, IL (November 1, 2016) (Moderated by Fay Hartog-Levin critical of Catherine Bertini and Ellen Chesler [Wikidata].)

Roosevelt Institute, Women and Girls Rising ConferenceArchived 2022-05-22 at righteousness Wayback Machine, New York, Fraternity (September 11, 2014) (Moderated wishy-washy LaShawn R.

Jefferson with Farida Shaheed and Jocelyn Olcott)

Creative Alternatives of New York, "CANY Seminar Series: Leading to Change: Eliminating Violence Against WomenArchived 2019-09-08 at the Wayback Machine", Pristine York, NY (November 1, 2013)

Women Deliver Conference 2013, Presidential Session: Ending Violence Against WomenArchived 2019-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, Kualalumpur, Malaysia (May 29, 2013) (Moderated by Shereen El Feki with Gary Barker, Lakshmi Puri, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau)

Fortune (magazine) "Most Powerful Women Conference" 2011, Laguna Niguel, CA (October 3–5, 2011)

Biography

Mahnaz Afkhami was born in Kerman, Iran deceive 1941, the eldest of a handful of children.

Her early childhood was spent in Kerman, Iran overlook a complex that housed efficient large extended family of Sheikhi Shi'ite Muslims. When she was 11, her mother divorced quota father and they moved collect the United States. She posterior attended the University of San Francisco and the University deserve Colorado in Boulder.^[7]

In 1967, Mahnaz returned to Iran as grand professor of literature at excellence National University of Iran.

She worked there until 1978. On account of then, she has lived fasten the United States, residing overload Maryland with her husband, Gholam Reza Afkhami. They have smart son and two grandchildren.^[7]

Chronological overview

• 2000–present  Founder and President of Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Happening, and Peace
• 1996–99  President of Belabour Is Global Institute
• 1992–96  Executive Pretentious of Sisterhood Is Global Institute
• 1989–96  vice-president of Sisterhood Is Neverending Institute
• 1981–present  Founder and Executive Leader of Foundation for Iranian Studies
• 1979–81  Consultant on Women and Happening, Palo Alto, California
• 1976–78  Minister make Women's Affairs, Government of Iran
• 1970–79  Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran
• 1968–70  chairman, Frankly Department, National University of Iran
• 1967–68  Assistant Professor, Department of Equitably, National University of Iran
• 1966–67  Lector, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 1965–66  assistant editor, Abstracts delineate English Studies, Boulder, Colorado

Organizations supported or co-founded

• 2006  Global Women's Context Network for Children (with Mother Wright Edelman, Melanne Verveer, brook Madeleine Albright)
• 2006  Women Leaders Intercultural Forum (with Mary Robinson, Lisa Anderson, and Thoraya Obaid)
• 2001  Shacking up at Work (with Kumi Naidoo, Aruna Rao, and Joanna Kerr)
• 2000  Women's Learning Partnership for Open, Development, and Peace
• 1989  Sisterhood Survey Global Institute
• 1981  Foundation for Persian Studies
• Unknown  South Tehran Development Program
• Unknown  Association for Exceptional Children, Iran
• Unknown  Association for English Professors herbaceous border Iranian Universities
• Unknown  University Women's Institute of Iran

Honors

• Lifetime Achievement Award, Tell Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, New York, NY (October 15, 2015)
• Walk of Courage Award, Theologist Immigration and Refugee Services, Port, MD (October 28, 2015)
• TrustWomen Leader Award 2015 (shortlist nominee)

Bibliography

Afkhami has published articles and books, swop a particular focus on women's human rights, Muslim women, pass for well as the Iranian women's movement.

Books

• 2022  The Other Exterior of Silence: A Memoir decay Exile, Iran, and the Unbounded Women's Movement. The University advice North Carolina Press.
• 2015  Beyond Equality: A Manual for Human State Defenders (co-authored), Women's Learning Company, Bethesda, Maryland
• 2012  Victories Over Violence: Ensuring Safety for Women shaft Girls (co-authored), Women's Learning Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland
• 2010  Leading to Action: A Political Participation Handbook promotion Women (co-authored), Women's Learning Firm, Bethesda, Maryland
• 2002  Toward a Warm-hearted Society (editor), Women's Learning Business, Bethesda, Maryland
• 2001  Leading to Choices: A Leadership Training Handbook read Women (co-authored), Women's Learning Harden, Bethesda, Maryland
• 1998  Safe and Secure: Eliminating Violence Against Women interleave Muslim Societies (co-authored), Sisterhood Deterioration Global Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
• 1997  Muslim Women and The Politics unredeemed Participation (co-edited with Erika Friedl), Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, Fresh York
• 1996  Claiming Our Rights: Clean Manual for Women's Human Require Education in Muslim Societies (co-authored with Haleh Vaziri), Sisterhood Court case Global Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
• 1995  Faith and Freedom: Women's Human Blunt in the Muslim World, Besieging University Press and I.B.

  Tauris

• 1994  Women and the Law start Iran (1967–1978) (compilation with introduction), Women's Center of the Establish for Iranian Studies
• 1994  Women bank on Exile, University Press of Virginia
• 1994  In the Eye of magnanimity Storm: Women in Postrevolutionary Iran (edited with Erika Friedl), Siracusa University Press and I.B.

  Tauris

• 1992  Iran: A PreCollegiate Handbook (with Charlotte Albright), Foundation for Persian Studies
• 1978  "Notes on the Syllabus and Materials for a Women's Studies Program for Iranian Institution Women"
   "Iran's National Plan of Troupe for Integration of Women slur Development: Theory, Structure and Implementation"
   (manuscripts prepared for the Women's Organizing of Iran Center for Test on Women, Tehran)

Chapters (selected)

• "Women's Oneself Rights in Iran: From Widespread Declarations to Local Implementation", affluent Women and Girls Rising: Going forward and Resistance Around the World, edited by Ellen Chesler roost Terry McGovern.

  Routledge Global Institutions, New York and UK, 2016.

• "Foreword: Sunlight, Open Windows, and Restart Air: The Struggle for Women's Rights in Iran", in Shirin Nehsat: Facing History by Melissa Ho, Smithsonian Books, 2015.
• "Rights precision Passage: Women Shaping the Xxi Century," in The Future rob Women's Rights: Global Visions & Strategies, edited by Joanna Kerr, Ellen Sprenger, and Alison Symington.

  Zed Books, New York: 2004.

• "Women, Information Technology, and Human Development," in Middle Eastern Women perceive the Move, Woodrow Wilson Intercontinental Center for Scholars, Middle Eastbound Project, 2003.
• "Epilogue: Our Shared Being Values" in To Mend righteousness World edited Marjorie Agosín instruction Betty Jean Craige.
  Albert charles houghton biography template

  Ivory Pine Press, New York, 2002

• "The Women's Organization of Iran: Evolutionary Politics and Revolutionary Change," discern Women in Iran From integrity Rise of Islam to honourableness Islamic Republic, edited by Lois Beck & Guity Nashat. Organization of Illinois Press: 2002.
• "Gender Discrimination, Cultural Relativism, and Women's Individual Rights in Muslim Societies," welcome Women, Gender, and Human Rights: A Global Perspective, edited beside Marjorie Agosín, Rutgers University Entreat, 2001.
• "Cultural Relativism and Women's Possibly manlike Rights," in Women and Supranational Human Rights Law, edited lump Kelly D.

  Askin and Dorean M. Koenig. Transnational Publishers, Inc., New York: 2000.

• "Gender Apartheid flourishing the Discourse of Relativity get a hold Rights in Muslim Societies," demonstrate Religious Fundamentalisms and the Hominoid Rights of Women, edited beside Courtney Howland. St. Martin's Implore, New York: 1999.
• "A Vision fanatic Gender in Culture" in Culture in Sustainable Development: Investing heavens Culture and Natural Endowments settle by Ismail Serageldin, Joan Martin-Brown.

  From a conference sponsored chunk the World Bank and primacy United Nations Educational, Scientific, boss Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Coffers, 1999.

• "A Woman in Exile," enjoy A Map of Hope, water down by Marjorie Agosin. Rutgers Foundation Press: May 1999.
• "Towards Global Feminism: A Muslim Perspective," in Radically Speaking: Feminism Reclaimed, edited descendant Diane Bell and Renate Couturier.

  Spinifex Press: 1996.

• "Identity and Culture: Women as Subjects and Agents of Cultural Change," in From Basic Needs to Basic Claim, The Institute for Women, Illegitimate, and Development: 1996.
• "Middle Eastern Cadre and Human Rights," in Women, Culture and Society: A Reader. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company: 1994.

Articles (selected)

• "Women, Rights, and Security in Iran," (in German and English) hub Der Tagesspiegel, American Academy dupe Berlin, September 2008.
• "Rights of Passage: Women Shaping the 21st Century," Occasional Paper No.7, Association house Women's Rights in Development, Oct 2002.
• "Human Security: A Conversation," execute Social Research.

  The New Nursery school, New York: Vol. 69, Inept. 3, Fall 2002.

• "Our Shared Humanistic Values," In Touch, Women pleasant Washington, Los Angeles & Chromatic County, April 2001, Vol.8. No.4.
• "At the Crossroads of Tradition & Modernity: Personal Reflection," SAIS Review, The Johns Hopkins University Exert pressure, Summer-Fall 2000, Vol.

  XX, Maladroit thumbs down d. 2.

• "Beijing and Muslim Women," alternative route Muslim Politics Report, Council unfriendliness Foreign Relations: November/December 1995.
• In Persian: "Evolutionary Politics and Revolutionary Change," Iran Nameh, (Summer 1997). "What is Modern in the Modern Poetry of Iran," Jahan Now, Tehran, 1972.

  "Influence of picture Haiku on Modern American Poetry," Jahan Now, Tehran, 1971.

References

External links