Madina Qasimi

Madina Qasimi is a human rights lawyer and career diplomat. She has held many leadership positions at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC. 

Among her embassy roles, she was minister counselor/deputy chief of mission and consul. Prior to her appointment to this position, she was chief of staff to the First lady of Afghanistan from July 2016 to October 2017. Previously, she served as first secretary at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC, from June 2013 to June 2016.

Qasimi has been a women’s rights and human rights activist for 29 years. She was recognized by the Women’s Foreign Policy Group in 2019 for her work as a guide to women leaders in international affairs, and currently serves on Meridian International Center’s Rising Leaders Council in Washington, DC.

Qasimi has a bachelor’s degree in law and political science from Kabul University and a master’s degree in law and international legal studies with two specializations, international human rights law and gender and law, from the American University Washington College of Law. In addition to her role at the Human Trafficking Legal Center, Qasimi is a visiting scholar at the American University Washington College of Law.