Open House Talks | Consequences of Patriarchy: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Women without Borders hosted two pioneering women’s rights activists, Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari and Dr. Jaleh Lackner-Gohari, for a conversation on the alarming status of women and girls in Afghanistan, Iran, and beyond.

The evening began with a stark reminder and warning: when authoritarian regimes rise, the consequences of patriarchy follow: the roll-back and dismantling of equality and of hard-won human and women’s rights.

Yet, as our speakers emphasised, now is not the time to despair. This is the time to act, to disrupt, and to reclaim the space every person rightfully deserves. Because every day is a day to celebrate women and all that has been achieved — and to continue the work that still lies ahead.