Who is sima samar

She had been in their homes and won their gratitude and trust. They became her base when she decided to run for office. She became the first woman, and first Republican, to be elected to the North Carolina House from her district. The more she heard from her alarmed constituents, the more she realized the quality of life she wanted for them was being devastated by the large hog farms.

She realized she had to take action in spite of her long distrust of government regulation, and this was one of those times when regulation was necessary. Both Senator Muegge and Representative Watson recognized that to introduce legislation to regulate the corporate hog farm industry was risking the wrath of the industry. But they went ahead and did what they believed was right. As a result of their efforts, regulations were enacted to control or phase out the hog-waste lagoons, have water and soil testing, mandate that new hog farms be set back from neighboring properties and put a moratorium on new operations.

Cindy Watson was challenged by a hog farmer in the Republican primary. Paul Muegge fought back and prevailed by a winning margin of only 67 votes. He continued to do battle with agribusiness on related issues such as poultry waste and fought unfair practices by processing plants.

He was not always successful but he became a shining example of stewardship of the land, concern for the environment and safety of all the people of his state. Although she was the incumbent, Cindy Watson, sadly, was defeated.

But defeat did not discourage her, for she strongly believed in doing her duty — doing what was right. They made a difference and inspired others by their example. They are true profiles in courage. Sima Samar of Afghanistan. As a physician providing health care and education for women, she championed the rights of women in her embattled country under the most trying circumstances and secretly provided help to women and girls during the time of the Taliban.

Since , when she established a non-governmental, and nonprofit organization call Shuhada which opened four hospitals, ten health clinics and numerous schools for girls in Afghanistan. More than 20, girls have benefited from her schools. Samar is the leading voice in her nation for the rights of women. Samar has been able to return to a public life of advocacy for women and human rights.

Continuing her dedication to courage in all circumstances, she maintained her opposition to the Islamic legal code — even though this view has increased the political pressure on her and the threats against her. Although the Taliban no longer rule, the plight for Afghan women continues to be dire.

The most recent State Department human rights report makes clear that significant barriers to equal rights and equal treatment for women remain.

Eighty-five percent of Afghan women are illiterate. Nearly 40 percent of basic primary-health facilities in Afghanistan have no female health professionals. Laws continue to discriminate against women. Two to three thousand women have been expelled from school, because married women are not permitted to attend high school classes. Male relatives must give permission for women to obtain passports.

Forced marriages have reportedly led to a recent increase in the number of suicide by women. Samar herself lives under constant threat, with men pounding on her gate late at night to intimidate her. Day in and day out, her magnificent efforts to transform Afghanistan are heroic and an inspiration to us all. She is a joy to all her family and no one would be more proud of her, and all she has accomplished, than her parents.

I know they would be especially impressed by all she is doing to improve the schools for the students of New York City. She represents the best ideals of those extraordinary years of the New Frontier - - Caroline Kennedy. Remarks delivered by Senator Edward M. Skip past main navigation. Award Recipients. Bridges George H. Sima Samar. Afghan Human Rights Activist Dr. Identifier Accession. Rights Access Status. Relation Is Part Of Desc.

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Subject Person Full Text. Object Type. Rendered HTML output. On return to her country, Ms Samar continued from all the positions she held her championing advocacy, training, service programmes and work to help restore the rights of women and improve their economic, political, legal and social status including the right of women government employees to return to their jobs and to keep their seniority after maternity leave, representation of women as Loya Jirga delegates, re-entry of girls into schools and legal representation for women.

As first Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission established in and constitutionalized in , Ms Samar reported bravely on pressing human rights challenges including the issues of civilian casualties, the realization of economic and social rights and the status of women, worked to strengthen the rule of law and end the culture of impunity and called for accountability for human rights violations of the past and present which even led to her receiving death threats from rights violators.

She has established the non-profit Gawharshad Institute of Higher Education GSIHE which initially offers training in the fields of political science, political sociology, economic planning, leadership and administration in education and opportunities for women, poor and marginalized students through tuition subsidies and scholarships. She accepted a marriage to Abdul Chafoor Sultani on the terms that he let her study medicine. Samar received a medical degree from Kabul University in She was the first Hazara woman in Afghanistan to do so.

They were among the educated people kidnapped during the Russian invasion never to be seen or heard from again.

In , oppressive Russian forces forced Samar to flee to Pakistan with her young son. She stayed there for the next 17 years, dedicating herself to aiding other Afghan refugees.