On April 6, 2023 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights was invited to participate in the closing event of Peacemaker Week at Hinterkappelen School near Bern. It was an extraordinary occasion where a group of students between the ages of 14 and 17 were concluding an inspiring week as Peacemakers. We invited Sonia Afsar Shafie, an Iranian Editor, Director, Screenwriter, and Human Rights activist as guest speaker.

Upon arrival, a large group of curious students was eagerly waiting to meet and hear Sonia's exceptional story. Sonia took the stage and began reminiscing about her childhood, youth, and student life in Iran. She shared the struggles of growing up under the strict Islamic regime in Iran, where the freedoms and excitement of youth were almost non-existent. Her teenage and adolescent years were full of memories of how to challenge the regime's strict laws and find ways to enjoy music and dancing.

Sonia's recollection of owning brand new white sneakers that were not allowed at school due to strict dress codes was particularly intriguing. Since her mother couldn't afford new shoes, Sonia decided to 'paint' her sneakers black to make them acceptable. She also shared a fascinating story about filming a group of young people climbing a mountain close to Tehran in 1996, where they met to talk, dance, and enjoy their youth. These gatherings were not permitted by the regime, but they were often tolerated. The regime was aware of them, and guardians were present to control the events, and sometimes people were asked to leave the mountain.

During the presentation, a 10-minute clip of this film was shown, which created some surprising and amusing moments for the audience. The students were very engaged and asked Sonia many questions, grasping the feeling of living in a country where women have very few human rights, and the freedom of speech and expression is practically non-existent unless you agree with the system. After the event there was an opportunity to discuss further topics related to human rights in countries like Iran with some of the students.