How Freedom Survives in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is now the only country where girls are barred from secondary school and higher education, where many women are forbidden to work outside the home, and in some regions cannot move without a male guardian. Public spaces that once sustained community and confidence have been closed to them. In this talk, photojournalist Kiana Hayeri shares months of reporting with women who continue to carve out small moments of joy, dignity, and resistance. Through intimate photographs and field insight, she shows how documenting hidden daily life is not only a record of loss, it also lays the groundwork for hope and resilience, preserving memory, context, and evidence for the future.

What you will take away:
• A clear understanding of current restrictions on girls and women in Afghanistan, grounded in lived experience and visual reporting
• Practical insight into ethical approaches for documenting vulnerable communities, including consent, context, and safety considerations
• Strategies for visual storytelling that balance truth telling with dignity, offering audiences a path from awareness to informed action

Who this is for:
• Photojournalists, filmmakers, and editors seeking rigorous methods for sensitive reporting
• Educators, students, and researchers interested in women’s rights, modern Afghanistan, and media literacy
• Policy makers, advocates, and cultural programmers who use images and narratives to inform public dialogue and educational outreach