Barcelona Hosts the Roundtable “Afghan Women in Search of Stolen Justice: Anatomy of a Historic Trial”
25 February 2026 | Barcelona
On 25 February in Barcelona, FIBGAR, within the framework of its initiative RAGAA (Raise Against Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan), together with People Help, Casa Asia, the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Afghan Women, and the Diputació de Barcelona, will hold the roundtable “Afghan Women in Search of Stolen Justice: Anatomy of a Historic Trial”. The event aims to highlight the resilience of Afghan women, the initiatives that have emerged from their struggle against gender apartheid, and the need for international support.
The roundtable will analyse the historic verdict adopted during the 55th Session of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Afghan Women. Participants will include Dr. Elisenda Calvet-Martínez, judge of the Tribunal; Dr. Orzala Nemat, prosecutor of the process; and Dr. Haroon Mutasem, representative of Rawadari, one of the Afghan organisations behind the Tribunal. Through their interventions, they will discuss what the Tribunal is, why it was created, and the legal and political implications of its decision.
On 11 December 2025, the 55th Session of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Afghan Women concluded in The Hague with the public reading of a historic verdict, following hearings held in Madrid from 8 to 10 October 2025. The verdict confirms what Afghan women have been denouncing for more than four years: the systematic exclusion of women from public life – through prohibitions on access to education, work, political participation, and freedom of movement – is not merely discrimination but may constitute crimes against humanity, including persecution on the grounds of gender. This pronouncement provides strong legal and moral backing for their claims and reinforces the call to the international community to adopt concrete measures in support of justice and accountability.
The day will continue with a session dedicated to the global struggle for recognising gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. Speakers will include Alessia Schiavon, FIBGAR Director and RAGAA Coordinator; Farzana Tareq, medical student and member of People Help; and Silvia Sala, Vice President of People Help and member of RAGAA. They will present the current context, ongoing international actions, and the RAGAA campaign. The session will highlight the leadership of Afghan women in this international struggle, which combines legal actions, political advocacy, and global mobilisation to advance formal recognition of this crime.
The event will conclude with an open networking session for all attendees to exchange ideas, strengthen alliances, and continue building collective actions in favour of justice and the dignity of Afghan women. You are invited to register and be part of this space for reflection, commitment, and mobilisation.
