Khadija Amin, founder of Hope of Freedom, warns at Esade of the risk of normalising the loss of rights

Afghan journalist and activist Khadija Amin, founder of the association Hope of Freedom, has warned at Esade of the risk of normalising the loss of rights. Amin was the keynote speaker at Esade’s 2026–2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony, where the institution reaffirmed its commitment to an education that engages with major social and political challenges and prepares people to think independently, act with ethical awareness and contribute to the common good. The event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and academic and institutional leaders, including Anna Xicoy, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Esade Foundation; Daniel Traça, director general of Esade; Carles Pérez, rector of Ramon Llull University; and Pau Vidal, SJ, the Jesuits’ delegate in Catalonia and an Esade trustee.

In conversation with Sira Abenoza, associate professor in Esade’s Department of Society, Politics and Sustainability, Amin reflected on the loss of freedoms in Afghanistan, the situation of women and girls, and the responsibility of the international community. The activist explained that when people live under a regime that gradually restricts freedoms, they may come to accept certain circumstances as inevitable. “When you live there, you normalise and accept many things because you see no other way out,” she said.

Amin, who had to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban took power in August 2021, continues to work from Spain to keep the situation of Afghan women and girls on the public agenda. She also warned against reducing the country to the Taliban regime and championed its history and culture, recalling that Afghan women have served as ministers, members of parliament, teachers and journalists.

During the conversation, Amin also examined the role played by the international community and argued that any solution for the country’s future must listen to and involve the Afghan people, especially its women and girls. Her testimony offered Esade students a lesson extending beyond Afghanistan’s specific circumstances: rights and freedoms cannot be taken for granted; every generation must actively defend them.

Educating to transform the world

In her institutional welcome, Anna Xicoy, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Esade Foundation, placed the start of the academic year in a context shaped by profound technological change, political fragmentation, polarisation, weakening trust in institutions and persistent inequality. Faced with these challenges, Xicoy stressed the role of Esade and educational institutions: “Education is not merely about preparing people to navigate the world as it is. It is also about helping you imagine what the world should be like and giving you the knowledge, judgement and determination to help transform it.”

The chair of the Board of Trustees recalled that this conviction lies at the heart of Esade’s Jesuit tradition, which brings together academic excellence, holistic education, rigorous knowledge and commitment to society. Its mission is to educate people who are competent, conscious, compassionate and committed, able to think independently, act with integrity and put their abilities at the service of others.

For his part, Esade director general Daniel Traça noted that throughout its nearly 70-year history, the institution has evolved without losing what defines it: its Jesuit tradition, academic excellence, international outlook, connections with organisations and society, and above all its commitment to the common good.

Traça explained that Esade is moving towards more interdisciplinary learning that engages with contemporary challenges, integrating technology and artificial intelligence across disciplines while strengthening what makes us human: “Critical thinking, creativity, dialogue, ethical judgement and, above all, the desire to serve.” He also highlighted the essential role the humanities will play in this process.

He also argued for widening access to education for talented people regardless of their economic or social circumstances. “Where someone starts should not determine where they end up,” he said. In this connection, he highlighted the contribution of scholarships and new forms of education financing, such as Income-Share Agreements, to expanding opportunity, diversity and social mobility.

Finally, he encouraged students to make the most of their time at Esade: to learn, question their assumptions, listen to people who think differently and reflect not only on the professionals they want to become, but also on the people they aspire to be. “Do not limit yourselves to preparing for the world that exists. Imagine and help build the world you would like to live in,” he concluded.

The rector of Ramon Llull University, Carles Pérez, closed the ceremony by highlighting ethics as a driver of progress and the responsibility to ensure that technological change respects human dignity and does not deepen social divides. The opening ceremony was preceded by a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Pau Vidal, SJ, the Jesuits’ delegate in Catalonia and an Esade trustee.