Dr. Sima Samar was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2:00 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, July 15, 2010, “in recognition of 
her leadership and courage in the defense and promotion of the rights of women and of democracy and human rights for all”.
In 2009, Dr. Samar was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize which was eventually awarded to the Former U.S. President Barak Obama.
As chairwoman of the Independent Afghanistan Human Rights Commission, she oversees the conduct of human rights education programs across the country, monitors the investigation of abuses and oversees a national women’s rights education program.
Dr. Samar received a medical degree in 1982 from Kabul University but fled to neighboring Pakistan after her husband was arrested during the Russian invasion. During her 17 years in Pakistan, she became a leader in educating Afghan women and girls. She founded The Shuhada Organization which operates 55 schools for girls and boys in Afghanistan and three schools for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Dr. Samar also present the keynote address at the Canadian Federation of University Women’s conference.