Addressing the gathering, she reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for a free and sovereign Palestine, reminding the international community that thousands of children and families in Gaza continue to suffer the devastating consequences of war.
She noted that young human rights defenders worldwide are now uniting behind a shared humanitarian cause to strengthen global solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Youth Congress, hosted at the International Rabat University, was jointly organised by Voice for Rights International, Youth Congress Morocco, and the International Rabat University. Participants from Pakistan, India, and several other regions attended, representing diverse youth-led human rights initiatives.
Alina Azhar has earned recognition at a young age for her extensive humanitarian work and has received multiple international honours, including the prestigious Lady Diana Award.
She shared that growing up amid social instability and violence—and losing her father at the age of sixteen—shaped her worldview. Instead of allowing grief to weaken her, she transformed it into a source of strength and committed herself to supporting those in need.
Motivated by this resolve, she founded Aasra Pakistan at the age of eighteen, an organisation providing support and protection to senior citizens, orphaned children, families living in informal settlements, the transgender community, and other marginalised groups.
At 22, she expanded her mission by establishing Aasra Türkiye in Istanbul, where volunteers deliver food supplies, warm clothing, hygiene kits, and essential assistance to Syrian refugee families.
Speaking at the Congress, she told young participants that a person can “rebuild even after breaking, rise despite isolation, and rediscover direction after immense loss.” Real change, she said, does not depend on position or approval but on courage and conviction.
Her participation in the International Youth Congress was widely regarded as a meaningful representation of Pakistan’s emerging generation. Her speech was praised for its clarity and powerful message on human rights, social justice, and the transformative role of youth leadership.
She added that during the Congress she also appeared on TRT World, where she met former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, and the Turkish President’s Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security, Akif Çağatay Kılıç.
The meeting included an in-depth discussion on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the broader Palestinian crisis, and the moral responsibilities of the global community.
According to Alina Azhar, the Palestinian struggle is not just a political conflict but “a test of the world’s collective conscience.”