Nila Ibrahimi: Song of Rebellion
2025 GANDHI ORATION | AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
Nila Ibrahimi | Verity Firth
When Nila Ibrahimi posted a video of herself online, singing proudly in protest of the ban on girls over 12 singing in public, she hoped the music would inspire young girls to continue their education. It was 2021 and the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan had come down swiftly on women's freedom. The video went viral and the ban was reversed, sending a powerful message across social media – women of Afghanistan would not be erased from public life. The Taliban would, however, go on to prohibit female education and Nila and her family would have to flee her homeland. Undeterred, Nila continues to advocate for Afghan girls from Canada.
Join winner of the 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize Nila Ibrahimi in her first ever visit to Australia. In conversation with UNSW’s Verity Firth, they’ll unpack how peaceful grassroots activism can empower people of all ages to challenge authority and the importance of a right to education.
ABOUT THE GANDHI ORATION
Since 2012, UNSW Sydney has held the annual Gandhi Oration celebrating the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as a champion of human rights. Each year the Oration focuses on a significant human rights issue of our time, providing a moment to take pause to explore these important issues. Revisit past Gandhi Orations through videos and podcasts here.
LIVE EVENT & VENUE INFORMATION
Leighton Hall is located inside the John Niland Scientia Building at UNSW Sydney's Kensington campus (G19). Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.
TICKETS
ACCESS
Wheelchair Access
The closest accessible drop off point to Leighton Hall is via Gate 11, Botany Street. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.
Assisted Listening
Leighton Hall has hearing assistive technology available. Patrons wishing to utilise this service must collect a Roger™ inductive neck loop receiver from the venue staff, and this system can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil, or with headphones.
Contact
To book and discuss access services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT & PARKING
Leighton Hall (John Niland Scientia Building) is easily accessible via public transport. The closest light rail stop is the UNSW High Street (L2 line) and the closest bus stop is UNSW Gate 14, Barker Street (303). For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.
Free parking is also available in the Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) from 5.30pm. For access to free parking, event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels. The Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) parking station is located here.
Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. The Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) parking station is the closest to the venue, and is located here. For more information head here.
PROGRESS FOR ALL
Educational attainment is a key driver of socioeconomic mobility and equity, with proven individual and societal benefits in spheres including health, financial footing, civic engagement, environmental conservation and workforce quality1. We are at an interesting point in history with both the need and ability to engage in education throughout our lives. It is critical, therefore, for UNSW to support and provide opportunities for a far broader range of learners than ever before.
We want to empower all our student cohorts – domestic and international undergraduate students through to our lifelong learners – to fulfil their learning aspirations and realise their potential.
UNSW’s world-class educational offerings are continuously enriched by our research innovations and knowledge creation. Our spectrum of educational offerings will be enhanced through co-design to address the evolving learning and skill needs of learners to take opportunities provided by new technologies like AI.
A UNSW education will be distinctive through the incorporation of societal impact. It will be accessible and inclusive, with a diverse community of learners who are supported to succeed in their studies, lives and careers. UNSW students, learners and graduates will be known for their integrity, ethics and values. They will be critical thinkers, highly innovative, creative, collaborative, employable, pragmatic and accountable for the impact they create.
We will foster interdisciplinary education that enables personalised learning, provides an outstanding student experience and commits to success for all our learners.
You can read more about our objectives in our UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.
CONTACT
For all enquiries, please email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.
The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.
Nila Ibrahimi
Nila Ibrahimi is an 18-year-old Hazara activist who narrowly escaped the Taliban following their return to Afghanistan in August 2021. At the age of 14, Ibrahimi joined the #IAmMySong social media campaign and recorded herself singing in defiance of the Kabul Education Directorate’s ban on singing. This peaceful act quickly became viral, and the notoriety rendered her a target with the Taliban forcing Nila and her family to flee the country.
In Canada, Ibrahimi uses her freedom as an opportunity to continually platform the oppression of Afghan girls and Hazaras left behind under Taliban rule. She is the co-founder and director of HerStory with her brother, an initiative to provide a safe platform for Afghan girls to share their stories and experiences, amplifying their voices worldwide. In recognition of her tireless work, Ibrahimi won the prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize in 2024.
Verity Firth
Professor the Hon. Verity Firth AM is the Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement at the UNSW Sydney and a member of the University’s Leadership Team. She has over 20 years’ experience at the very highest levels of government and education sectors in Australia.
Prof. Firth has spent her career championing the importance of education and women's rights in enabling progress for all. She was NSW Minister for Education and Training from 2008 – 2011, where she focused on equity in education, and how to best address educational disadvantage in low socio-economic communities, including rural and remote Indigenous communities. As NSW Minister for Women from 2007 – 2009, Prof. Firth implemented sector wide strategies to improve women’s recruitment, development and employment in the NSW public sector, and delivered the NSW Government’s first Domestic Violence Strategy.
