An exhibition project about and with courageous female women’s rights defenders from Afghanistan. In cooperation with Hami e. V. and the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, and financial assistance from Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen. 

To be experienced physically in Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum from Jan 31 to Apr 13, 2025, as well as digitally at: www.medicamondiale.org/en/because-we-are-women

Human rights defenders being portrayed:

Yalda Bilal Ahmadi, Bahara Ajmal, Basira Akbarzada, Maryam Amiri*, Sonia Asaqzada, Kreshma Azizi, Sajia Behgam, Somaya Ebrahimi, F. Faham*, Masiha Fayez, Kamila Gulchin, Saina Hamidi, Mariam Zalmai Hanafi, Nasima Mirzada, Najia Niazi, Shumaisa Rahimi, Arezu Rezayee, Dewa Wardak, Sosan Yaqobi, Wahida Mohammed Zai 

*For reasons of safety, the name has been changed.

Project management

Sara Fremberg

Project team

Mandy Bauer, Helena Haack, Isabelle Diekmann, Charlotte Straka

Interviews and texts

Petra Kilian

Website

i-gelb GmbH

Photography and Video

Lela Ahmadzai, support: Jannis Keil

Editing and translation

Anne Vonderstein, Craig Meulen, Schakila Pradella, Sara Kondert, Arija Faizy 

Press and public relations work

Melina Kohr, Caroline Siems

Exhibition

Exhibition design

Marie-Helen Scheid

Artistic director Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum

Nanette Snoep

Managing director Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum

Anne Fischer

We would also like to thank the numerous other colleagues at medica mondiale who contributed their expertise and time to support the project.

Anna Laufenberg, Anna Pagel, Lailoma Vida Faizi, Lydia Hauth, Verena Marusic, Jennifer Quatuor, Jennifer Wagner, Lilly Wildfang  

We dedicate this exhibition to the women and girls in Afghanistan and courageous defenders across the world who fight to uphold women’s rights and other human rights every day. We fight side-by-side. For a fairer world. For everyone.