Nazifa Haqpal is the Founder and Director of Aspire Expert Research and Consultancy (AERC). She is a former Afghan diplomat, and currently specialises in international human rights law, sharia law, and gender studies, with a specific focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. She has over fifteen years of career experience working in governmental and non-governmental sectors. Her experience revolves around strategising, managing a dynamic team and research projects, managing bilateral diplomacy, policy analysis, conducting advocacy, and lobbying around issues of human rights, especially women’s rights related to the socio-political landscape of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nazifa served in senior positions as head of the United States of America Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic government of Afghanistan, as well as a practitioner with international organizations including UNAMA (United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan) and Action Aid International in the areas of human rights and women’s empowerment.

Prior to founding AERC and embarking on her academic journey, she also worked as head of the Consulate department and as a diplomat at the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan embassy in London from 2011 to 2015. In this position, she has gained extensive knowledge of the issues facing the Afghan diaspora in the UK, as well as UK and Afghanistan bilateral diplomatic relations and foreign policy related issues.

Nazifa is currently a Ph.D. candidate in law with the SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London. Her PhD thesis focus is assessing legal reform for securing the rights of women in post-2001 Afghanistan. Her research interests lie at the intersection of socio-legal research, gender studies, international human rights, and sharia law. She has a master’s degree in international security and diplomacy from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, and a BA in law and political science from Kabul University. She is an effective public speaker, media commentator, and published author.