Maryam Faiq Gardiwal, a Master of Public Administration student at Augusta University, participated in the HearUs Summit: Coordinating Action for Accountability for Afghanistan held in Spain in December. The summit focused on advancing human rights accountability and justice for Afghan women and girls, with support from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various international partners.
The event brought together Afghan female leaders, former parliamentarians, officials, human rights advocates, and policy experts to discuss implementing United Nations accountability mechanisms. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares opened the conference by announcing that a room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be named in honor of Afghan women and girls as a gesture of solidarity.
Gardiwal volunteered as both speaker and moderator during the two-day event. On the first day, she led a panel and workshop examining how United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions could be effectively implemented. She organized discussions among advocates and experts to consolidate shared recommendations. On the second day, Gardiwal presented these recommendations during the main plenary session to contribute to broader conversations about institutional responsibility.
Gardiwal said her advocacy is shaped by her personal experiences growing up under Taliban rule before leaving Afghanistan as a child to pursue education abroad. She explained that witnessing renewed restrictions on Afghan women after 2021 influenced her focus on public administration and policy work related to accountability.
She credited Augusta University’s MPA program with helping her engage confidently at international events. “The knowledge I’m gaining helps me stay grounded, focused and intentional,” she said. “It allows me to raise my voice in a meaningful way.”
Wesley Meares, PhD, director of Augusta University’s MPA program praised Gardiwal’s leadership: “Her success reflects not only her own hard work and leadership but also the quality of our MPA students who are thoughtful, community-focused and committed to the values of public service.”
Kim Davies, PhD, dean of Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Art, Humanities & Social Sciences added: “Her leadership, her courage and her commitment to accountability embody the values of public service that guide our curriculum… We are incredibly proud of her.”
