Bahishta Nohtani is an Afghan-born dentist, humanitarian and advocate for women’s rights whose life journey reflects extraordinary resilience and commitment to service. Born in 1987 in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan, she grew up under the first Taliban regime, where girls were denied access to education. Despite facing violence and restrictions from an early age, she continued learning in secret with the support of her family.
After years of displacement in Pakistan and Iran, her family returned to Afghanistan. At just 14, she began working as a translator in a maternity ward for Médecins Sans Frontières, an experience that strengthened her dedication to healthcare and humanitarian work. She went on to collaborate with several international organizations, including Médecins du Monde Canada, the National Solidarity Programme, UNAMA and UNODC, while actively supporting women affected by violence.
Threatened because of her engagement, she was forced to leave Afghanistan and arrived in Geneva in 2009. Starting from scratch, she learned French, completed her studies and eventually fulfilled her dream of becoming a dentist, earning a Master’s degree in Dental Medicine from the University of Geneva. She now practices in Geneva while raising her daughters as a single mother.
In 2014, she co-founded the Afghan Women’s Rights Association (AWRA), through which more than 1,000 girls have received informal education, over 300 orphaned and abandoned children have been supported, and healthcare services have reached more than 8,000 people in need. Through her professional and humanitarian work, Nohtani Bahishta continues to champion education, dignity and hope for women and children in Afghanistan and beyond.
