Farkhondeh Akbari

Dr. Farkhondeh Akbari is a postdoctoral research fellow at Gender, Peace and Security Centre at Monash University. Her research focuses on diplomatic actors and peace settlement negotiations with non-state armed groups, looking at the cases of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, and women, peace and security agenda in Afghanistan. She completed her PhD in diplomatic studies at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. Dr. Akbari obtained a Bachelor’s in International Relations from La Trobe University, a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Melbourne, and an Advanced Master’s in Diplomacy from the Australian National University. Dr. Akbari has work experience at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and Afghanistan’s Independent Directorate of Local Governance. Dr. Akbari is also an activist, using her research to advocate for human rights – especially the rights of women and girls, and vulnerable ethnic groups in Afghanistan.

Key ICCT Publications:

Vale, G., Margolin, D., and Akbari, F. Repeating the Past or Following Precedent? Contextualising the Taliban 2.0’s Governance of Women. Research Paper, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, 12 January 2023