The Girls Human Rights Hub – co-founded by Sultana Tafadar KC of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and her daughter Safiyah – provides resources and training for girls and women from ages 11 to 24 to use advocacy, leadership and litigation to make positive change for rights.

Ms Tafadar, who was the first hijab-wearing criminal barrister to be appointed King’s Counsel last March, has been working in human rights law since she was called to the bar in 2005 and has been with No5 Barristers’ Chamber since 2016.

She said: “The idea to create this hub came from my 11-year-old daughter Safiyah. She has always been driven by the desire to become a human rights lawyer and she came up with the idea to create a hub where girls could learn more about their rights and how to claim them.

“As an experienced human rights, international law and criminal barrister, I have seen first-hand the injustices faced by women and girls across the world. Wanting to continue to make a positive change across the world, I thought this was a great idea and rallied a team together to make this vision a reality. We now have a hub where girls can join and learn from experts about how to advocate for rights, develop leadership and communication skills and even become part of the new generation of lawyers advancing girls’ human rights worldwide.”

Safiyah said: “I am so excited to be founding an organisation that will help so many girls across the world advocate for their rights. I want to become a human rights lawyer when I am older, but I wanted to start work to help other girls fight for their human rights now. The Girls Human Rights Hub will help so many people learn about the rights they deserve, give them the skills they need to lobby for them and inspire them to change the world. I am so excited to see what we can achieve with this organisation. I’m excited to be changing the world!”

The organisation provides expertise though four hubs that focus on different priority areas. The Knowledge Hub provides key information about the issues affecting girls’ human rights and what international laws say about them. At grassroots, local, national and local scales, the advocacy hub equips girls with practical tools to make effective action and have their voices heard in the fight for rights.

The leadership hub aims to support girls with the skills to articulate ideas, persuade others and advocate for change in their communities and beyond as leaders for an equitable future. Aimed at inspiring and creating the next generation of human rights lawyers, the young lawyers hub provides training, fellowships, mentoring and strategic litigation to help girls advocate for rights.

Ms Tafadar said: “We hold the belief that every girl is entitled to a life free from oppression, discrimination, and violence, and that girls’ rights are fundamental human rights. Our organisation supports girls in being the essential stakeholders and architects of their own futures, advocating their inclusion and participation at all levels of decision-making. We are deeply committed to promoting gender equality, challenging harmful social norms and practices, and working towards a world where every girl can achieve her full potential.”