Husna Jalal
2025-2026 Obama Foundation Europe Leader
Director, Women for Change International
Netherlands
Husna Jalal is the director of Women for Change International, an organization dedicated to creating a world where marginalized individuals, particularly women, youth, and children, can fully realize their human rights regardless of their background. In 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power, Jalal left her home in Afghanistan for the Netherlands, where she has continued her activism with even greater determination. She has spearheaded mental health support programs for Afghan women, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which have benefited hundreds of young women. Furthermore, she has initiated educational programs for women affected by the Afghan education ban and mental health support for refugees in the Netherlands. As the founder of the Young Afghan Women’s Movement, she has advocated for youth inclusion in peacebuilding, organizing discussions at institutions like Leiden University to challenge traditional peacebuilding approaches. Her long-term vision is to create a world where women, youth, and marginalized communities have the agency, resources, and opportunities to lead and shape their futures.
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