Jawad Zulistani
Activist Participant
Jawad Resettled in Canada after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. He is currently based in London, Ontario, where he pursues a master’s in research for Policy and Evaluation at Western University and conducts research on immigrants’ integration experiences in Canadian society. Besides, he volunteers with two education programs that provide in-person and online education for girls in Afghanistan. He previously worked as Managing Director of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization in Kabul. At the organization, he led initiatives focusing on mobilizing and empowering victims of war and victims’ inclusion in peace-building processes. He also worked on projects to address ethnic conflict in Afghanistan by engaging youth from different regions and ethnic groups of Afghanistan in dialogue and socio-cultural exchanges. Prior to that, he worked as an analyst and researcher with leading Afghan media as well as international organizations working on topics of transitional justice, peace, healing, and rehabilitation of victims of war. Jawad was forced to leave the country after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, but he still remains involved in efforts for justice, accountability, and improvement of human rights in Afghanistan. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Kabul University and studied for his master’s degree at Brandeis University as a Fulbright scholar.