Dr. Benafsha Yaqoobi is a civic society and human rights activist, founder of The Organization of Rahyab for Rehabilitation Services for the blind (ORRSB) in Afghanistan, an attorney for the elimination of violence against women until 2019, and also Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commissioner (before The Taliban’s 2nd takeover). Dr. Yaqoobi was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Nowadays, she is taking a PHD Research Degree program in sociology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines (LSHTM). She is also the founder and director of The Rahyab Initiative, UK.
Since the political changes in Afghanistan in 2021, she has consistently used every available platform to emphasize to the international community the critical importance of including Afghan women in national peace-building processes.
Dr. Yaqoobi’s achievements include: honorary lecturer at Afghanistan’s online University, registered inThe Netherlands and Germany (2025); prosecutor, member of a team of prosecutors for Afghanistan’s case at The People’s Permanent Tribunal (PPT) (2025); completion of a PH.D research degree from Lovely Professional University, India, in Political Sciences, with a thesis on democratic governance and its impacts on women’s political rights in Afghanistan (2001-2021); awardee of The International Women of Courage (IWOC) for 2024 by U.S State Department, based on her advocacy for the rights of women, particularly the rights of women with disabilities in Afghanistan; awarded the 2022 Marca Bristo fellowship by Human Rights Watch; selectee of the 100 influential women by BBC World in 2021; received master’s degree in political sciences in 2018 from Payam-e-Nour University, Kabul, Afghanistan; earned master’s degree in international relations from Afghanistan Institute of Higher Education, Kabul, Afghanistan.
