iProbono welcomed a distinguished gathering at the House of Lords for an evening that honoured justice, dignity, and legal empowerment. Hosted by our Patron, Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, the packed room included leaders from the legal, policy, academic, and philanthropic worlds to support iProbono’s efforts in ensuring access to justice for vulnerable people and communities.
The evening was made especially memorable by Habiba and Arifa, Afghan women cyclists and human rights defenders. In the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, iProbono evacuated Habiba and Arifa as part of our People at Risk (PAR) Program. The program saw us support over 100 evacuees on every step of their journey, providing secure accommodation, food, and financial assistance. We also delivered urgent legal aid, trauma care, and safe pathways to resettlement.
Both Habiba and Arifa, who now live in Rome, shared powerful accounts of their escape as well as their determination to continue to advocate for the rights of Afghan women. “…Every day, I think of the girls back home—girls just like me—who are now banned from school, banned from dreaming…I want to be a voice for them. I want to create a path, a possibility, even a little light—so they don’t give up hope,” said Arifa.
The event also featured images taken by renowned photographer Mobeen Ansari, tracking the difficult journey of the evacuees from Afghanistan to Europe.
The historical backdrop of the House of Lords provided a backdrop for these frontline voices, as well as an urgent call to action by our CEO, Mariam Faruqi:
“For the past sixteen years, we’ve kept our heads down and our values high – working to forge just and resilient communities where individuals are empowered not only to know their rights but to assert and protect them. We do this through strategic litigation, advocacy that changes hearts and minds and sustained collaboration. And we do it with kindness, empathy, and determination.”
Stories of Change, Voices of Impact
We also shared stories from our work across South Asia, including how we secured a recent conviction in a child sexual abuse case, setting critical legal precedents for other survivors to seek justice. We talked about how our Legal Aid Clinics for domestic workers in Bangladesh are providing legal support to over 400 women workers in Dhaka, and how our team in Sri Lanka is empowering LGBT+ individuals to combat digital blackmail, fostering safe spaces and survivor-led advocacy.
The message of the evening was clear: this work is more urgent now than ever before. From expanding our legal empowerment programmes to building regional networks and advancing social justice, iProbono remains committed to systemic change rooted in human dignity.
We invite you to stand with us. By donating to iProbono, you become part of a global movement advancing justice, equality, and accountability.
To learn more, write to us at communications@i-probono.com.
