Thank you for being here - your story matters
Your voice can help build an honest record of life — and its lasting effects — in societies where women and men are treated differently by law, custom, or power.
Please watch the video before continuing.
We want to hear from anyone with personal knowledge of structural gender discrimination — where rules, laws and customs enforce inequality between women and men — including from those who have moved away and are building new lives. This form of discrimination treats all women within the country as a different class of citizen; and is often referred to as Gender Apartheid.
What is Gender Apartheid?
It is when the systems meant to ensure justice are used to discriminate against or segregate women — for example, through laws that limit women’s rights and choices in everyday life, or fail to protect them from violence.
In some countries, laws control what women can wear, where they can go, how they live, and the opportunities available to them — often through a male guardian. It can also be seen where laws fail to effectively prevent violence against women, such as failing to adequately deter forced marriage, marital rape, or female genital mutilation.
Where are these systems found?
These systems are often associated with countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. They are also widely discussed and criticised in countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Egypt, Congo, Pakistan, India, and Nigeria.
However, similar laws and social expectations exist in many parts of the world.
Why your voice matters
Your testimony helps document how gender apartheid affects real lives. Each contribution builds a public record that raises awareness, supports research, and helps others recognise patterns of control and exclusion across different societies and legal systems.
You remain in control
You decide what you share and how your interview appears. You can update details, change visibility settings, or withdraw completely. If you request removal, your material will be taken out of public view as soon as the request is received.
Protecting your identity
If appearing on camera or using your natural voice feels unsafe, you can choose identity protection options during upload. These may include disguising your appearance or audio, and can be changed later if your situation changes.
Data security and privacy
Interview material is stored on secure infrastructure within the EU, with access tightly restricted. Personal data is never used for marketing, never sold, and never shared with unauthorised third parties. Full details are available in our privacy policy.
About this project
This archive is run by Fatemeh Ekhtesari and Sic Publishing AS. Fatemeh was imprisoned for her writing about the lives of women in Iran. The project is committed to documenting gender apartheid carefully, ethically, and with participant safety at its core.