The conference “Women’s Solidarity for Education and Self-Determination in Afghanistan” was held on April 10, 2026 at Vienna City Hall. The event was held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the cultural association "AKIS" and the 26th anniversary of the publication of the magazine "Bano" with the widespread presence of cultural, social and political figures from the Afghan Diaspora in Europe and the United States, as well as a number of Austrian officials.
The aim of the conference was to draw attention to the situation of Afghan women and girls after the recent political developments, strengthen solidarity between the diaspora and European institutions, and create a platform for dialogue between activists, experts and politicians. Within this framework, two specialized workshops on “Supporting Girls’ Education” and “Integrating Afghan Women in the Diaspora Labor Market” were held.
Austrian government officials spoke at the event, stressing the need for international support for Afghan women. Also, for the first time in three decades of cultural and social activities of this organization, Mr. Ghaus-ud-Din Mir, head of the Afghanistan Culture Center in Austria and head of Wazeen Bano magazine.
The ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the Vienna Municipality.
In the final section, the Rabia Balkhi statue was awarded to five prominent figures, including Ms. Manijeh Bakhtari, Farangis Mirzad, Fariba Sadiq, Fawzia Mitra and Hafifa Wahid, in recognition of their efforts in supporting women and promoting Afghan culture.
The event ended with performances by Afghan artists and dance groups, creating an intimate and memorable atmosphere for the participants.