Gaisu Yari, HRSMA 2018, was selected as a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. The award ceremony took place on April 28, 2025.The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Outstanding Recent Alumni Award honors individuals who have graduated within the past ten years and have excelled in early stages of their careers, exemplifying what GSAS alumni can achieve.
During her acceptance speech, Gaisu said: “This university—especially the Institute for the Study of Human Rights—is where I first learned to expand my understanding of the human rights ecosystem. I came here with the hope of one day returning home to Afghanistan, where the rights of women and girls, minority groups, and vulnerable communities have been under imposed relentless attack for decades. It was here that I first realized the power of knowledge—not just to illuminate the mind, but to stir the soul, to spark change, to dare to make a difference. That belief carried me through with my lived experiences every step of the journey back home to be part of Afghanistan.[...] So as I stand before you accepting this recognition, I ask you not to see this as a celebration of one person’s achievement. See it as a call to action. Let us not only excel in our work and scholarship—let us live the values we so often speak of. Let us be bold in principle, courageous in our beliefs, and unyielding in our commitment to justice.”
Gaisu is a passionate storyteller, advocate, and gender justice expert whose personal experience as a survivor of child marriage has driven her mission to raise awareness about women’s rights in Afghanistan. For the past three years, Gaisu has traveled extensively across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Pakistan, working with Afghan refugees and women leaders in exile. She has worked tirelessly to document their stories, build solidarity, and bring global attention to the plight of Afghan women. As previous role at the Civil Service Commission of Afghanistan as a Commissioner, Gaisu currently serves as a fellow at the Wilson Center while leading
Afghan Voices of Hope Project, allowing her to engage deeply with Afghan communities, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges they face. The initiative focused on collecting stories from those in exile and those still in Afghanistan. Through this project, she aims to engage with these communities on a global scale, creating platforms for their voices to be heard and advocating for a future of justice and equality. As an advocate for gender justice, Gaisu has spoken at numerous international conferences, collaborated with global organizations, and worked with the media to raise awareness about the critical issues facing women and girls. Gaisu received her BA from University of Virginia in Women, Gender and Sexuality and her MA from Columbia University in Human Rights.
