MALALAI JOYA

“WOMAN FOR PEACE” Award

Being the bravest woman in Afghanistan has never been the main goal of Malalai Joya. It never was throughout her controversial political career as a parliamentarian. Nor was it even in 2003 when, during that Constitutional Assembly in Kabul, she stood up and denounced those who needed to be denounced: the warlords and criminals, the drug barons and their cronies. A denunciation that was, first and foremost, an act due to her own country. A land of fires, ravaged by wars and mother of a generation of orphans. And therein lies Malalai's courage. In that elementary sense of responsibility with which she does not bow down to the logic of silence, doing what needs to be done. What is right to do. Because there is no fear or threat that stops her, if people's lives and the protection of the inalienable rights of humanity are at stake. Because Malalai is truly a heroine of our times. Even if, perhaps, she doesn’t know that she is.