Dr. Sima Samar, a legendary woman ever living in the history of Afghanistan, rendering services selflessly in upbringing of oppressed and depressed among various communities, with the service ranging from education, healthcare and social/human rights particularly that of women, in the country where women is regarded third class citizen.
When Sima Samar was born in Jaghori, Ghazni, Afghanistan in 1957, she seemed to have the odds stacked against her, as a woman, one of the most persecuted strata in the country. Yet it is exactly these circumstances that caused her to put both her life and liberty at risk, as she has continually strived to be a voice for the disenfranchised.
Sima received a medical degree in 1982 from Kabul University, a career chosen based on her desire to make a positive difference in her country. Yet her work to effect positive change in Afghanistan was performed for many years from Pakistan, where she fled after her husband was arrested during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. He was one of more than 500 educated people rounded up one night in 1984, never to be heard from again.
During her 17 years in Pakistan she became a leader for educating Afghan women and girls. Sima founded The Shuhada Organization, which now operates 55 schools for girls and boys in Afghanistan and 3 schools for Afghan refugees in Quetta, Pakistan.
During the Taliban regime, Shuhada schools in Central Afghanistan were among the few academic girls' primary schools; the organization's girls' high schools were the only high schools that girls were able to attend in the country. The Shuhada Organization also ran underground home school classes for girls in Kabul. Following the collapse of the Taliban, these home school classes became the basis for two on ground schools for girls that now teach 800 students.
From December 22, 2001 until June 22, 2002, Dr. Sima Samar served as the Deputy Chairwoman and Minister of Women's Affairs for the Interim Administration of Afghanistan. Dr. Samar was one of only two women cabinet ministers in the Interim Administration of Afghanistan's government.
During this Administration, Sima established the first-ever Afghanistan Ministry of Women's Affairs. Among other accomplishments, the Ministry won the right of women government employees to return to their jobs and to keep their seniority, oversaw the re-entry of girls to schools, launched a women's rights legal department, and opened a school for married girls offering tailoring, literacy, and embroidery courses at the Ministry's headquarters.
She has been recognized for her leadership and courage by dozens of human and women's rights organizations globally, and continues her work in Afghanistan and also as the United Nations special envoy to Darfur, Sudan.
On August 10th, 2005, due to her courageous and untiring work for the cause of Human Rights in the national and international arena, she was appointed as the United Nation's Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights for Sudan by the commission of human rights of the United Nation.
Sima has paid a heavy price for her commitment on a personal level. Yet despite the difficulties she is happy with the work she does. She has said in the past that her work may be only a drop in the ocean, but at least she feels that that drop is something positive.
Dr. Samar is currently the Chairwoman of the Independent Afghanistan Human Rights Commission. In this position, she oversees the conduct of human rights education programs across Afghanistan, the implementation of a nationwide women's rights education program, and monitoring and investigation of human rights abuses across the country. Dr. Samar convened the Commission, which is the first Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan's history.
At this very moment, the great saying venders in my thoughts; the man values surpassing the man of success. Moreover, changing the world is good for those who want their names in books of history. But having aimed at eternal joy is for those who write their names in the lives of others, and hold the hearts of others as the treasure most dear.
Provided this priceless treasure imbibed, engraving the course of history with escalation of human dignity and value must be regarded the worthiest and holiest. Time professes such personalities lent the attitude of prominence to human dignity, liberating him out of vicious circle of prejudices. Though, magnitude of deep affection they have earned in the heart of humanity has no alternative, yet traditional awards heighten their significance.
In the honor of Dr. Sima Samar's valuable services to promotion of human rights and strengthening of democracy, she is rewarded with numerous international awards with Right Livelihood Award being the most recent.
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honor those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today".
The prize was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, and is presented annually in early December. An international jury, invited by the five regular Right Livelihood Award board members, decides the awards in such fields as environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, and peace.
Since 1980, the foundation has presented, as of 2012, awards to 149 Laureates from 62 countries. Presented annually in Stockholm at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament, the Right Livelihood Award is usually shared by four Recipients, an Honorary Award is given to a person or group whose work the Jury wishes to recognize but who is not primarily in need of monetary support. The prize money for each Laureate is 50,000 €. Learning the worth of mission by each laureate to modern society, let's discuss their superb contribution.
Hayrettin Karaca of is considered the grandfather of the Turkish environmental movement. A successful businessman-cum- conservationist, he has become a leading educator and activist for environmental protection in Turkey. The environmental foundation TEMA, which he co-founded, is now a nation-wide-movement to protect soil and natural habitats. He is awarded Honorary Award for his lifetime tireless advocacy and support for the protection and stewardship of our natural world, combining successful entrepreneurship with effective environmental activism.
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based NGO and campaigning organisation working towards the abolition of the international arms trade. Founded in 1974 by a broad coalition of peace groups, CAAT believes that the arms business has a devastating impact on human rights and security, and damages economic development and that large scale military procurement and arms exports only reinforce a militaristic approach to international problems. In recongnition for their innovative and effective campaigning against the global trade in arms., the NGO shares Right Livelihood Award 2012.
Gene Sharp is Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, USA. He is known for his extensive writings on nonviolent struggle, which have influenced numerous anti-government resistance movements around the world. He is awarded, for developing and articulating the core principles and strategies of nonviolent resistance and supporting their practical implementation in conflict areas around the world.
Although all the four laureates are praiseworthy, yet Dr. Sima samar bears distinction, facing odd circumstances and combating the multifold barriers of flawed traditions, gender based discrimination and hurting accusations. Notwithstanding the hurdles she valued the sanctity of greatness of cause, defeating her opponents, for being awarded with the commendable award for her war-torn country, is matter of great pride.