Community 

UN CSW 79 Panel
Breaking Barriers: Leadership of Women in Refugee Populations

Impact

  • 75

  • March 13, 2025

  • SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • New York City, United States

Impact
Overview

This panel highlights the vital yet overlooked leadership of refugee women in crisis-affected communities and the urgent need for recognition, support, and inclusive policies.

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Speakers

  • Aysan Jahankhah – A refugee from Iran and a mental health counseling intern at Columbia University, Aysan specializes in resilience and well-being for marginalized communities. She researches neurocognition and advocates for refugee women’s mental health.

  • Bethal Abraham – An MPH candidate at NYU, Bethal focuses on early childhood development, refugee resilience, and mental health. With experience in pediatric emergency medicine and mental health education, she works toward equitable healthcare policies.

  • Amber Culley – Representing the Canadian Council of Young Feminists, Amber is a social justice advocate with a background in political science, criminology, and global studies. She pursues dual Master’s degrees in Psychotherapy & Theology, and her work spans migrant justice, gender equity, and peacebuilding.

Project Team

  • Maria Alejandra Guardado , Program Manager, BacharLorai

  • Anil Wasif, Trustee & Director of Strategy, BacharLorai

  • Aftab Ahmed, Trustee and Director of Policy Research, BacharLorai

  • Apanuba Puhama, Content Lead, BacharLorai

  • Azkka Noor, Outreach Lead, BacharLorai

SDG Alignment

Target 5.1

End discrimination against women and girls

Target 5.2
Eliminate violence against women and girls

Context

BacharLorai’s 2025 panel on "Breaking Barriers: The Unseen Leadership of Women in Refugee Populations" comes at a critical time when refugee populations are disproportionately impacted by global crises. This event will bring together experts, advocates, and women with lived experiences to discuss how leadership emerges in the most challenging conditions. Despite facing significant adversity, women in refugee communities often take on vital roles as leaders, change-makers, and advocates for their families and communities.

From Rohingya camps in Bangladesh to Sudanese refugee settlements, and Ukrainian refugee centers, women are at the forefront, tackling a wide range of issues including access to education, healthcare, and legal rights, while also actively participating in peace-building and community stabilization efforts.

However, their leadership often goes unnoticed or underrepresented in global dialogues. BL’s panel aims to shine a light on their invaluable contributions, fostering deeper understanding of the barriers they face, and the critical support systems needed to ensure their leadership is both recognized and strengthened.

BL will highlight key findings from its research, drawing attention to the need for enhanced protection, opportunities, and policies that enable women to lead in their communities. The panel will also explore the importance of intersectional approaches in addressing the diverse challenges faced by refugee women and girls, such as gender-based violence, economic marginalization, and lack of access to basic services.