Founder’s Narrative

Prominent Attorney and Influential Leader in Justice and Women’s Rights

Najla Raheel is one of Afghanistan’s most prominent and influential figures in legal and civil society. She is a nationally recognized attorney within Afghanistan’s judicial system and a pioneering leader in defending women’s rights. In leadership roles within legal institutions, Najla has actively advanced justice, law reforms, and the protection of victims of violence. She has served as counsel in over two thousand legal cases, primarily representing women and children, including victims of violence. In high-profile national cases such as the Farkhunda Malikzada trial, she demonstrated courage and expertise, earning her recognition as a distinguished and committed attorney in Afghanistan’s history.

Early Life and Education

Najla Raheel was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and spent her childhood amid war, discrimination, and authoritarian systems. During the first Taliban regime, she was denied formal education but bravely attended a hidden school, cultivating an early and profound commitment to justice and women’s rights.

After the fall of the Taliban, she resumed her higher education and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Law (Sharia) from Kabul University. She then completed a Master’s degree in Criminal Law at the Islamic Azad University, Kabul, with a thesis entitled “Compensation for Victims of Suicide Attacks by the State in Afghanistan and International Documents.” Later, she began doctoral studies in Private Law at Islamic Azad University, Tehran.

Following Afghanistan’s subsequent collapse, Najla continued part of her studies online in exile, but could not complete her degree due to travel restrictions and the challenges of migration.

Legal and Professional Experience

Najla Raheel has over fourteen years of experience in Afghanistan’s judicial system as an attorney, legal researcher, and advocate for justice. She has vigorously defended the rights of women and victims of violence, discrimination, and injustice, contributing significantly to the improvement of the country’s legal system.

She has held key leadership positions, including:

• Vice President of the Afghanistan Independent Lawyers Association
• Member of the Board of Directors, Afghanistan Independent Lawyers Association
• Chair of the Women and Family Rights Committee
• Chair of the Gender Equality Committee
• Board member of the Afghan Women Network and regional women networks
• Member of law reform committees at the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Women
• Member of Family Law Committees and other governmental and civil institutions supporting women’s rights

She played a pivotal role in gender-focused legal reforms, especially in revising the Penal Code, earning recognition as one of Afghanistan’s most respected legal and civil leaders.

Migration and Leadership in Exile

With the return of the Taliban and the crackdown on women and civil society activists, Najla Raheel was forced to leave Afghanistan. Through the international Vital Voices program, she relocated to Albania, where she volunteered as a coordinator for Afghan refugees for six months, playing a critical role in organizing and supporting women and families.

After resettling in Canada, she continued her civil and educational work, focusing on legal and leadership skill development, and launched a renewed path of advocacy and empowerment for Afghan women in exile.

Founding HOVIAT – Women’s Identity

Her extensive experience in Afghanistan’s judicial system and observations of the country’s social and humanitarian collapse inspired Najla to establish HOVIAT – Women’s Identity.

This non-profit organization focuses on empowering Afghan women, restoring their social and cultural identity, and building solidarity networks among women inside and outside Afghanistan.

Under Najla Raheel’s leadership, HOVIAT acts as a bridge between marginalized and empowered women—a bridge to rebuild confidence, reclaim women’s voices, and strengthen their societal and global role.

Vision and Mission

Najla Raheel, with her vast legal expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice, represents an honest and pioneering figure in the pursuit of equality. She believes that only through unity, awareness, and collective action can unequal structures be transformed, paving the way for justice and freedom.

Her work at HOVIAT demonstrates that even in exile, the voices of Afghan women are unstoppable and can inspire a new wave of awareness, justice, and transformative change both nationally and globally.