A former pro athlete and Afghan soccer player advocates for sports equality and global women’s rights
by Dorsey Griffith
At just 7 years old, Kawser Amine envisioned a more just and peaceful world. Growing up in war-torn Afghanistan, she was deeply affected by the harsh realities of her environment—young girls forced into marriages and stripped of their freedoms, and fundamental rights. She found an unexpected sanctuary in sports on the soccer field.
“Walking to the soccer field changed my life,” Amine says. “Playing a sport isn’t just about physical health; it’s about mental strength, identity and representation. I fell in love with the game. Soccer gave me the courage to fight, to dream big and to never give up.”
Amine brings that same energy, vision and expertise to her role as a commissioner on the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG). Appointed to the commission in June 2023, she aims to build bridges between communities to push for gender equity and human rights.
“Playing a sport isn’t just about physical health; it’s about mental strength, equality and representation.”
Kawser Amine, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Commissioner
As a young woman, Amine’s love for soccer was transformative. She joined the Afghan National Women’s Team, where she excelled as an athlete and became a fearless advocate for women’s rights, particularly the right to participate in sports freely. Her trailblazing efforts came at a cost, however, drawing criticism and threats from those determined to silence her.
As threats mounted, and after the birth of her first child, she and her husband made the difficult decision to leave Afghanistan for the United States.
“In Afghanistan, my work in high-ranking government positions and my advocacy efforts had earned me respect and purpose,” she says “I was part of the U.S. and its allies’ broader mission for democracy in Afghanistan. Now, as a refugee, it was my turn to rebuild trust globally and lead my generation to represent a stronger, younger Afghanistan.”
Her first 10 months in the U.S. were challenging. Amine struggled as she worked to integrate into a new society and rediscover her voice. Over time, her experience in foreign policy, international affairs, public service and advocacy for human rights and gender equality re-emerged. She began to speak out again, this time on behalf of Afghan women now silenced under the oppressive current regime.
Amine founded Women’s Solidarity for Peace & Leadership, a global organization that unites influential figures, creates a women’s solidarity circle, and elevates women’s voices.
Today, as part of the CCSWG, Amine is a leading advocate on issues like equality in sports, refugee rights, women’s representation, and the empowerment of women around the world. She leads the Commission’s International Relations Committee.
“Women’s rights are still under attack, and we have so much work to do,” she says.
Even in California, Amine sees barriers such as affordability, limited resources and the distractions of social media that keep girls from participating in sports.
As the fourth largest economy, the state is also is home to leading tech companies, AI investors, and philanthropists. Anime aims to explore how AI and technology can empower the next generation, especially girls, by helping them build skills and use these tools responsibly to support meaningful initiatives, like sports, skill building, knowledge advancement, and more.
Amine also says it’s time to extend Title IX’s protections to those who have been historically underserved.
“Let’s play big because equality doesn’t happen by accident,” she says. “It’s time to move beyond celebration and commit to action. We must expand equality for all—especially girls of color, girls with disabilities, and diaspora athletes. The future of Title IX must break barriers and ensure true inclusivity for generations to come.”
The commission, she says, allows her to work to bridge such disparities.
“It’s where I collaborate, innovate and push women’s issues forward—not just globally, but in our communities and homes,” she says. “It’s where we can truly change lives.”
For more information on the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls visit https://women.ca.gov/
