Dr. Soraya Fallah Official Blog

  Event Report: Human Rights Day – Creating Immigrant Pathways Report and Video by Dr. Soraya Fallah, Vice President of UNA-USA San Fernando Valley Chapter Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM Platform: Zoom (Meeting ID: 852 0385 4195 | Passcode: 444510) Event Link: https://una-socal.org/events/december-10-2024-un-human-rights-day/ Chapter Website: https://una-socal.org/san_fernando_valley/ As Vice President of the UNA-USA San Fernando Valley Chapter, I co host and cofacilitate our virtual celebration of Human Rights Day on December 10, 2024. The theme of the event, Creating Immigrant Pathways , was designed to explore the legal pathways to immigration in the United States and to celebrate the diversity and contributions of immigrant communities. The event attracted hundreds of attendees from various backgrounds, including community members, educators, students, and immigration advocates, who gathered to reflect on the intersection of human rights and immi...

  Urgent Call for Advocacy and Support for Pakhshan Azizi, Social Worker Imprisoned in Iran Dear Members of the International Federation of Social Workers, I am writing to you in my capacity as a human rights advocate, and campaign mobilizer for global justice, previous member of the International Federation of Social Workers, a researcher, as well as a lifelong supporter of the social work profession. I reach out with deep concern regarding the dire situation of Ms. Pakhshan Azizi, a courageous social worker and civil society activist from Iran’s Kurdish ethnic minority, who is currently imprisoned under grave and unjust circumstances. Ms. Azizi, a dedicated humanitarian, has committed her life to aiding refugees and vulnerable communities. Since 2015, during one of the most perilous times in the Middle East, she worked tirelessly in Syria’s Rojava region, providing essential support to victims of violence and displacement caused by ISIS. Her work was purely humanitarian, yet...

  https://youtu.be/htFDPbazim4 Today, November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I stand before you to raise awareness of an urgent and heartbreaking issue: the oppression and violence faced by women globally, and the specific case of Pakhshan Azizi. I am Dr. Soraya Fallah, a researcher, women’s rights activist, and advocate. Pakhshan Azizi is a humanitarian social worker and civil society activist from Iran’s marginalized Kurdish community, now at risk of execution. Her story represents the systemic violence faced by women, particularly in repressive regimes. In 2023, Pakhshan was arrested at her family home in Tehran. While her family members were eventually released, she was taken to Evin Prison on unfounded charges. Despite dedicating her life to helping refugees and victims of violence in Syria’s Rojava region since 2015, she now faces a lengthy prison sentence and the threat of execution after an unjust trial. Her only “crime...

  My motivation to get involved with the United Nations Association stems from a lifelong passion for creating global change and advocating for human rights. My journey in this field began with my master’s thesis, where I explored women’s rights and the role of the United Nations in advancing them. This experience not only deepened my understanding of the UN’s critical role in shaping international policies but also fueled my desire to contribute to its mission. Advocating for global justice has always been central to my work. My commitment to supporting marginalized communities aligns seamlessly with the UNA’s mission to promote peace, security, and justice. I believe my experience as a scholar and consultant enables me to amplify the voices of those who need it most and contribute meaningfully to creating a fairer world. Education and empowerment are at the heart of my efforts. Through my work, I strive to inspire others to take action on issues like sustainable development, gend...

  Instagram من دکتر ثریا فلاح هستم، پژوهشگر و فعال حقوق زنان و مدافع حقوق بشر. من روز ۲۵ نوامبر، روز جهانی محو خشونت علیه زنان را برای حمایت و صحبت در باره پخشان عزیزی انتخاب کرده‌ام، زیرا معتقدم او و دیگر زنان در زندان‌های ایران، تحت شدیدترین اشکال خشونت و سرکوب قرار دارند. پخشان عزیزی، یک مددکار اجتماعی انسان‌دوست و کنشگر جامعه مدنی از جامعه تحت ستم کُرد ایران است که اکنون با خطر اعدام روبروست. در سال ۲۰۲۳ ، او در منزل خانوادگی خود در تهران به همراه پدر و خواهرش بازداشت شد. اگرچه اعضای خانواده‌اش پس از مدتی آزاد شدند، اما او بر اساس اتهامات بی‌اساس به زندان اوین منتقل شد. با وجود اینکه او تمام زندگی خود را وقف فعالیت‌های انسان‌دوستانه کرده بود، اکنون پس از یک محاکمه غیرمنصفانه در دادگاه انقلاب تهران، با حکم سنگین زندان و تهدید جدی اعدام مواجه است. پخشان تنها به دلیل انجام وظایف حرفه‌ای خود به عنوان یک مددکار اجتماعی محکوم شده است. از سال ۲۰۱۵ ، در دوران هراس‌آفرینی داعش، او در منطقه روژاوا در سوریه به ارائه کمک‌های بشردوستانه به پناهجویان و قربانیان خشونت مشغول بود. فعالیت‌...

به سڵاو و ڕێز! من دکتۆر سوره ییا فه لاح م، توێژەر و چالاکوانی مافەکانی ژنان و داکۆکیکارم. من ٢٥ ی نۆڤەمبەر، ڕۆژی جیهانی به ڕه نگار بونە وه ی توندوتیژی دژ بە ژنانم هەڵبژارد بۆ پشگری لە کە مپیە نی   پەخشان عەزیزی ، چونکە بڕوام بە وه یە ئەو و ژنانی دیکەی زیندانەکانی ئێران له ژێر هە مو جۆرە سەختی وتوندوتیژی دان. پەخشان عەزیزی توێژەری کۆمەڵایەتی مرۆیی و چالاکی کۆمەڵگەی مەدەنییە کوردی ڕۆژهه ڵاته کە له ساڵی ٢٠٢٣ بە تۆمەتی بێ بنەما دەستبەسەر کراوپاشان گوازرایەوە بۆ زیندانی ئەڤین لە دوای دادگاییکردنی نادادپەروەرانە لەلایەن دادگای ئینقلابی تاران، سزای زیندانی درێژخایەن و هەڕەشەی لەسێدارەدانی له سه ره. پەخشان تەنها بەهۆی ئەنجامدانی کاری توێژەری کۆمەڵایەتییەوە سزای بەسەردا سەپێندرا. لە ساڵی ٢٠١٥ەوە، لە سەردەمی تیرۆری داعشدا، لە ناوچەی ڕۆژاڤا کاری کومه ڵایه تی بۆ پەنابەران و قوربانیان دابینکرد. کارەکانی تەنیا لە پێناوی یارمەتی مرۆیی بوون، لەگەڵ ئەوەشدا دەسەڵاتدارانی ئێران بەبێ هیچ بەڵگەیەک ده یانه وێت سیز‌ای نامرۆڤایه تی به سه ردا داسەپێنن. بوێری پەخشان ڕەنگدانەوەی هێزی ژنە بێشومار...

  I Voted! Why I Voted for Kamala Harris: A Vote for Women's Rights, Secular Democracy, Forward Thinking, and Inclusivity Dr. Soraya Fallah I cast my vote for Kamala Harris because I believe in a future that rejects drama, corruption, bigotry, and divisive politics. I am committed to a secular government that upholds democratic values. Kamala Harris represents the diversity, progress, and forward momentum our country desperately needs. She is a strong advocate for justice, women’s rights, climate policies, and a government focused on serving all people, regardless of faith or background. With decades of experience as a local prosecutor, San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator, and now vice president, Harris has taken on corporate polluters, transnational criminals, and for-profit colleges. She consistently supports working families, reproductive rights, and a fair economy. Her leadership style is calm and steady, demonstrating the ability to buil...

  Inclusive Education: Improving Academic Success and Promoting Wellness for Afghan and Ukrainian Refugee Students Inclusive Education: Improving Academic Success and Promoting Wellness for Afghan and Ukrainian Refugee Students — Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (phi.org) Speaking at the CIRH Conference!  I will be speaking at the upcoming Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH) conference, alongside my esteemed colleagues, Stephanie Vasquez and Aileen Salomon. This marks a significant milestone as it is CIRH's first in-person event, bringing together key stakeholders committed to improving the health and well-being of immigrants and refugees. At the conference, we will engage with partners from the Afghan Refugee School Impact-Support to Schools (ARSI—S2S) and Ukrainian Refugee School Impact (URSI) initiatives. This gathering will provide a unique platform for community engagement, information sharing, and collaboration among school districts, community-based or...