Afghan Women Solidarity Concert and Fringe Programme

On 8th March 2025, Belfast will host the Afghan Women Solidarity Concert, marking International Women’s Day with a significant event featuring special guests from Northern Ireland and beyond. These artists will perform alongside musicians from the Ulster Orchestra in a concert dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing oppression faced by women and girls in Afghanistan.

A fringe programme will follow from 9th–12th March, involving schools, youth groups, businesses, and women in music. Discussions will centre on violence against women and girls, with contributions from guest speakers, artists, and community leaders. The event has been developed and is supported by a consortium of businesses, foundations, and organisations, including Beyond Skin.

Since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021, music has been banned in Afghanistan, girls have been denied access to education, and women have lost fundamental rights, including the right to speak in public. Violence against women and girls has escalated, with reports of child marriages increasing. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, 30 women and girls were tragically murdered between 2019 and 2024. Belfast was awarded UNESCO City of Music status just three months after the Taliban’s takeover, reinforcing the city’s role in advocating for artistic freedom and human rights.

The full line-up and ticket details for the Afghan Women Solidarity Concert will be announced in February. For more information, visit Beyond Skin.