Born in Kabul (Afghanistan), Najla Raheel is an Afghan women’s rights activist, defence attorney and vice-president of Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA). Attorney Najla Raheel holds a Bachelor of Law from the Damagen Kabul University as well as a Master of Judgment and Criminal Science from the Islamic Azad University (Tehran, Iran). Najla Raheel serves as a board member for Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) as well as for several other regional women’s network, advocating for women’s rights and striving towards ensuring the development of gender-friendly policies.
Over the past 15 years, Attorney Najla Raheel worked on more than 2000 women’s rights related cases in Afghanistan including cases of violence against women. In this regard, Attorney Raheel held a crucial role in defending dozens of highly sensitive cases of violence against women in Afghanistan that were extensively reported on international and Afghan media. Amongst them was Farkhunda Malikzada ’s case, for which Mrs Raheel not only served as a defence attorney but also acted as a fierce advocate for end of impunity and women’s rights in Afghanistan. Flawed Justice After a Mob Killed an Afghan Woman – The New York Times (nytimes.com). Throughout her legal activities, Attorney Najla Raheel also worked in several Afghan legislative committees, such as the Law Reform Committee for the Ministry of Justice and the Law Ratification Committee for the Ministry of Women’s affairs, in order to provide legal recommendations ensuring the protection and defense of women’s rights in Afghanistan. In addition, Attorney Najla Raheel, cooperated with many international women’s rights organizations such as UN Women and provided them with legal expertise regarding family law and specifically on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Law in Afghanistan. As an advocate for the implementation of EVAW law in Afghanistan, Attorney Najla Raheel, taught, trained and equipped law university students throughout Afghanistan with legal techniques related to the protection and defense of the Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) in Afghanistan.