solidarity without borders 

As the year draws to a close and many of us prepare to enjoy a festive break surrounded by family and friends, it’s a time to reflect, rest, and renew. I’m going to be reflecting on next steps for LUMIN and how fortunate I’ve been to have met so many amazing women during 2024.

We’ve been talking in the LUMIN sessions about how to make the world of work better for women, how we can support, connect and encourage each other to help make this happen.

But hearing the latest news from Afghanistan has made me pause and reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted — and think about those who face unimaginable challenges, especially women across the globe who are being denied basic rights.

In Afghanistan, the situation for women has become increasingly dire. Nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and laboratory sciences — fields that offer hope and life-saving care—are now off-limits as careers for women. Their education has been suspended, effectively excluding them from these professions.

This is only the latest in a long list of restrictions imposed since 2021: women are banned from secondary education, most forms of employment, and many public spaces.

Even healthcare, a fundamental right, is slipping out of reach. Male medics are prohibited from treating women without a male guardian present—further limiting access in a country with one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates: 620 women die for every 100,000 live births compared with just 10 in the UK.

This stark reality reminds us how critical it is for women to support one another. While our challenges are real, we are fortunate to have the freedom to learn, work, and thrive.

As we rest and recharge over the holidays, let’s also think about how we can lift each other up in the year ahead and advocate for those whose voices are silenced.