Shahrbanu Haidari is from Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s gender apartheid system severely oppresses women and girls. In this harsh environment, females over the age of 12 are barred from attending school or university, restricted from working, and denied access to justice. In August 2021, Shahrbanu fled her homeland and relocated to Italy in search of safety. She completed her MA in Peace Studies from the American University of Rome in December 2023, with her thesis focusing on women’s activism in the diaspora.

Driven to create change, Shahrbanu, alongside six other women, co-founded Associazione di Solidarietà Donne per Le Donne (ASDD) in May 2022. This pioneering Afghanistani women’s association in Italy was established to support Afghanistani women refugees and migrants while promoting cultural exchange. ASDD is dedicated to achieving gender equality and empowering Afghanistani women refugees in alignment with the United Nations’ fifth Sustainable Development Goal. The organisation’s mission encompasses research, capacity-building workshops, raising awareness, and facilitating educational and job opportunities. ASDD envisions a future where Afghanistani women and girls, both refugees and migrants, have access to comprehensive socio-psychological services and pathways to gender equality. It also advocates for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Notably, in 2023, ASDD received an award from “Articol21” for its proactive stance in defending women’s rights.

As President and Co-Founder of ASDD, Shahrbanu plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality and supporting Afghanistani refugees by providing strategic direction and leading programs focused on education and vocational training. ASDD’s initiatives include mental and reproductive health programs, capacity-building workshops, work and educational opportunities, cultural and sports activities, and advocacy efforts, including projects like providing schooling for Afghan girls. Additionally, Shahrbanu serves as an Advisor and Co-Chair of the Women, Peace, and Security group for Women 7 Italy during the Italian G7 Presidency, where she coordinated the working group, provided strategic advice, and contributed to drafting the Women, Peace, and Security section of the Women 7 Communique.

Currently, Shahrbanu serves as the Campaign Manager for the #EndGenderApartheid in Afghanistan campaign, led by ASDD and the European Hub of Politics4Her. Launched on May 15, 2024, this initiative aims to raise global awareness, secure international condemnation, and seek legal recognition of Gender Apartheid as a Crime Against Humanity. In this role, Shahrbanu develops and implements campaign strategies, manages teams, engages with key stakeholders, and oversees content creation and performance tracking.

In addition to her work with ASDD, Shahrbanu is a Project Assistant for WIIS Italy’s Women’s Mediators, Peacebuilders, and Leaders Mentoring Programme for Afghanistani Women. She also worked as a Research Fellow with the Afghan Witness Project, where she contributed to documenting and analyzing Afghanistani women activists’ social media advocacy. Earlier in her career, Shahrbanu served as an Adjunct Professor at Avicenna University in Kabul and worked as a College Lecturer at Teacher Training College in Bamyan, leading instructional efforts and mentoring students.