Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (12:37): I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak about an incredible woman I met at an event hosted by the Victorian Afghan Associations Network, and I would like to thank VAAN for hosting and celebrating this extraordinary woman Dr Sima Samar, a woman from Afghanistan and a physician, humanitarian and human rights advocate. She has demonstrated life-long courage and inspired people all around the world. Dr Samar has devoted her career to advancing women’s rights, education and access to health care, often in the face of tremendous risk. As a doctor she provided medical care to women, often widows and families who had nowhere else to turn. As the founder of Shuhada Organization, she established schools and clinics across Afghanistan and created opportunities and hope for tens of thousands of people. Dr Samar was a minister for women in the interim government and the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Sudan. I was very grateful to have Dr Samar visit the south-east and to be able to be alongside people who hosted her.