About Us

Our History

Shahmama, originally the female name of one of the two ancient Buddha statues in Bamyan province of Afghanistan, dating back to the 5th century AD, symbolized gender equality, balance, and harmony between men and women in Afghan society. Its destruction by the Taliban in 2001 marked not only the loss of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage but also the silencing of women’s rights and voices. Inspired by this legacy, Shahmama Organization carries forward the spirit of resilience, equality, and empowerment in all its work.

Profile

Shahmama is a Geneva-based, women-led, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing the rights, justice, accountability, leadership, and meaningful participation of Afghan women and girls.
Grounded in the principles of gender equality, universal human rights, and social justice, Shahmama connects the lived realities, experiences, priorities, and perspectives of Afghan women with evidence-based international advocacy and policy engagement.
Through international and multilateral engagement, strategic partnerships, and collaboration with Afghan women and women-led civil society organizations, Shahmama works to amplify Afghan women’s voices, advance pathways to justice and accountability, and strengthen their meaningful participation in processes and decisions that affect their rights, lives, and future.

Vision

A just and inclusive Afghanistan where women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedom, justice, and meaningful opportunities to lead, participate, and shape their country’s future.

Mission

To advance the rights, justice, accountability, leadership, and meaningful participation of Afghan women and girls through evidence-based international advocacy, policy engagement, and international and multilateral engagement.
Shahmama works to amplify Afghan women’s voices and priorities, advance pathways to justice and accountability, promote gender equality and social justice, and strengthen their meaningful participation and influence in processes concerning Afghanistan.

Goal

Shahmama’s goals are to advance the rights, freedoms, and dignity of Afghan women and girls; promote justice and accountability for violations and abuses of their human rights; and strengthen the leadership, agency, and meaningful participation of Afghan women and women-led civil society in decisions and processes that affect their rights, lives, and future.
We seek to advance inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive approaches to peace and social justice, while strengthening Afghan women’s influence in international and multilateral policy and decision-making processes and ensuring that their voices, priorities, perspectives, and recommendations are meaningfully reflected.
Through international partnerships, solidarity, and collective action, Shahmama seeks to strengthen sustained international support and action for the rights, justice, leadership, and meaningful participation of Afghan women and girls.