Reception and conference at Vienna City Hall
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Afghan Cultural, Integration and Sports Association AKIS and 26 years of Banu Women’s Magazine, a conference was held in Vienna on April 10, 2026, followed by a reception in the Wappensaal of Vienna City Hall. The event was organized in cooperation with the VIDC and the Vienna Chamber of Labour (Women and Gender Equality Policy Department).
Around 200 guests from eight European countries, including many women from the Afghan diaspora, representatives from politics, civil society and institutions, sent out a clear signal: Education and self-determination for Afghan women and girls are non-negotiable.
In the speeches, the systematic disenfranchisement of women in Afghanistan was referred to as gender apartheid. Representatives from Austria and the European Parliament emphasized Europe’s political responsibility to maintain international pressure and make the voices of Afghan women visible.
There was a strong focus on the role of the diaspora. Young AKIS representatives emphasized that education is not a privilege, but a fundamental right, and called on people not to remain silent. Clear recommendations also emerged from the workshops: strengthening alternative educational pathways, expanding digital learning opportunities, directly supporting women, promoting networks and specifically removing barriers to integration in Europe.
The event impressively demonstrated how important it is for associations, institutions and politicians to work together to translate solidarity into concrete action.
Award for special commitment
During the event, Maryam Singh was also honored for her many years of exceptional commitment to migrant women.
The award was presented as a “prize for courage” in memory of Asiye Sel ‘s commitment and in particular recognizes Maryam’s commitment to solidarity, social participation and the empowerment of women with migration experience.
With her tireless commitment, Maryam has made a significant contribution to supporting migrant women and promoting respectful coexistence for many years. The award is also a recognition of her professional work, her attitude and her personal commitment.
We are delighted to receive this special recognition and congratulate them on this well-deserved award.
For the Counseling Center for Migrants, participation in such specialist events is an important contribution to quality assurance and the further development of counseling practice.
Briefly summarized
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Unsere Berater*innen unterstützen Migrant*innen bei Fragen zu Aufenthalt, Arbeit und sozialrechtlichen Ansprüchen und bietet rechtliche Orientierung sowie individuelle Beratung.
