The Future for Women in Afghanistan
Zarlasht Sarwari, Mariam Veiszadeh & Najeeba Wazefadost
Hosted by Diana Sayed
The Australian and American troops are gone, the Taliban are back in power. What is life like now for women and girls in Afghanistan and what can we in the rest of the world do to help?
COVID-19 safety information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage you to wear a mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained, and please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.
Pre-sale and on-sale information
Multipacks
General public on sale – 9am, Thursday 16 December
Single Tickets
Insider Member Priority – 9am, Thursday 16 December
General public on sale - 9am, Friday 17 December
Sunday 13 March 2022, 11am
Session runs from 11am - 12pm
Standard tickets from $33 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction Save up to 15% with a festival Multipack | Livestream tickets from $15
| Ticket | Unreserved Seating |
|---|---|
| Standard |
$33 |
| Insider (Save 20% on this performance) | $26.40 |
| Multipack Buy 3 - 4 events and save 10% | $29.70 |
| Multipack Buy 5+ events and save 15% | $28.05 |
| Livestream | $15 |
| Livestream festival pass | $85 |
| Babes in arms | $10 |
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times
The authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House and Vimeo. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below.
Enjoy the full day of talks online with a Festival Pass ($85), or purchase an individual livestream ($15). Purchase here.
This talk runs for approximately 60 minutes (no interval)
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
In English | Auslan interpreted | Audio loop available & wheelchair accessible
Auslan interpretation service is provided for audiences who are deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Experienced Auslan interpreters stand to the side of the stage and translate what the speakers are saying into Auslan. A block of seats is reserved for users of this service to ensure a good view of the interpreter and the stage. If you wish to book Auslan tickets and be seated in this area please call 02 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Suitable for all ages
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times, and children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a mask.
“As a young Hazara woman who lives in Australia, I fear what the resurgence of the Taliban means for Afghanistan.”
Atika Hussain
Exploring the reality for women in Afghanistan now
At the end of August 2021, Australian and American military forces withdrew from Afghanistan. With the Taliban now in control after the 20-year "war on terror", many are fearful about the fate of women under the fundamentalist regime that restricts women’s participation in public life.
Human rights lawyer Diana Sayed leads a panel of distinguished Afghan-Australian women with deep connections to family and friends in Afghanistan. Did the Western presence benefit or disrupt Afghan women’s organisations? How do Afghan women and their allies around the world fight for their freedom? This will be an essential session filled with expert knowledge and personal stories.
Co-curated by Diana Sayed and Bibi Mossavi
Presented by Sydney Opera House
More about...
Diana Sayed is a campaigner, international human rights lawyer, and CEO of the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights. She was a senior crisis response campaigner at Amnesty International Australia where she worked on issues pertaining to war crimes in Syria, civilian casualties in Iraq, women’s rights in Afghanistan, and genocide in Myanmar against the Rohingya Muslim minority community. She is passionate about taking an intersectional approach to gender equality. Diana has worked as an advocate, campaigner and disruptor defending human rights for over 10 years.
More about...
Zarlasht Sarwari is a researcher, writer and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Her research examines the impact of geopolitical forces and long-distance nationalism on identity construction and belonging among Afghanistan diaspora communities in Australia. Her work considers what it means to be from Afghanistan in the context of a homeland, both real and imagined, which has become increasingly out of reach and under threat.
Zarlasht has produced written works for The Southerly Journal, ABC radio, Sydney Writers Festival, Parramatta Laneways Festival and Fairfield City Museum and Gallery.
More about...
Mariam Veiszadeh is an award-winning human rights advocate, lawyer, diversity and inclusion practitioner, contributing author and media commentator.
Mariam was recently appointed as inaugural CEO of Media Diversity Australia. She has also founded the Islamophobia Register Australia, and has held multiple board positions including formerly as Co-Chair of Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights and Our Watch.
Mariam has worked as radio commentator for the ABC radio and as a columnist for Fairfax media.
With many accolades to her name including the Fairfax Daily Life 2016 Woman of the year, the 2015 Westpac Woman of Influence and Welcoming Australia Life Member Award in 2021, Mariam is renowned for influencing positive change both in the workplace and in society more broadly.
Mariam was born in Afghanistan and came to Australia in 1990 with her family as a refugee and has long been a vocal champion of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. When Kabul fell in August last year, Mariam was at the forefront of advocating for Australia to increase its humanitarian intake.
More about...
Najeeba Wazefadost, Founder and Executive Director of APNOR ( Asia Pacific Network of Refugees) and also the founding member of GIRL ( Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders.
Najeeba is a former refugee from Afghanistan who has graduated from B. Medical Science. She is the Founder of Global Refugee Network and the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees. Najeeba has been actively involved in the development of refugee-led networks at both the regional and global level, which focuses on bringing together refugee and migrant-led organizations and refugee change-makers from around the world to gather to discuss their lived experiences and propose solutions for more effective and sustainable refugee policy. She is an advocate, educator, public speaker, and researcher with strong qualitative and quantitative skills. She has worked throughout policy and program cycles from design, implementation, review and evaluation. Through all her work, she prioritises and amplifies the voices, experiences, and aspirations of those most directly impacted. She has been a gender audit to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and ensuring Gender equality and the empowerment of refugee and migrant women remains a top priority commitment.
Catch the livestream
A selection of ten talks at All About Women will be livestreamed from our stages in 2023, meaning you can catch keynote talks from Bikini Kill, Jennette McCurdy, Grace Tame and so many more even if you can't make it to the House on the day.
There's so much more...
girls are coming out of the woods
tishani doshi, amani haydar, eliza hull, joelle taylor, jazz money, lucia osborne-crowley & julia zemiro
Inspired by the movement of survivor testimonies informing social change, the All About Women Opening Night Gala will be a heart-filled celebration of women transforming suffering into power featuring Tishani Doshi, Amani Haydar, Eliza Hull, Joelle Taylor & Jazz Money hosted by Julia Zemiro.
first nations women look to the future
aileen moreton-robinson, chelsea watego, amy mcquire & larissa behrendt
Indigenous women, white feminism and power; colonial violence, self-determination and Blak joy - what are the obstacles and pathways to a new future led by First Nations women? Find out at All About Women 2022.
ask an aunty
hosted by rudi bremer
Do you have a difficult choice to make? Do you need perspective that goes beyond your own view? You're invited to seek counsel with the elders at All About Women 2022.
Venue Information
Performances are being sold to 100% capacity in line with the NSW Public Health Order. This includes all shows in the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Studio, Playhouse, Drama Theatre, Utzon Room and Forecourt. Please note that you will be seated directly alongside other ticketholders.
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer consistent with COVID-safe rules.
Transport options
- We encourage you to use private transport options to minimise crowding on public transport (in line with NSW Government advice).
- The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see their website for details.
- Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel and COVID-19 safety measures. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a 6 min walk to the Opera House.
What safety measures have you implemented?
Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.
What am I required to do as an audience member?
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage.
Within venues, always take your allocated seat.
For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you, please see our plan your visit page.
Do I need to be vaccinated to visit the Sydney Opera House?
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Am I required to wear a mask?
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
How are you managing contact tracing?
Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.
As the ticket purchaser, you are responsible for recording the contact details of your guests. Contact information will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing, if required, and will be deleted at least 28 days after your event.
What time do I need to arrive before the event?
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
Will there be bag checks, and is cloaking available?
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
What safety measures do you have in place?
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage visitors to wear a face mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options here.
Does my child need to wear a face mask?
Children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a face mask.
Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event?
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
What if I can't come to my performance?
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.
Will there be food and beverages available for purchase in the venue?
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
Will there be pram parking at kids performances?
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to the foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres consistent with COVID-safe rules.
Can my baby sit on my lap?
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children 2 years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Can I smoke at the Opera House?
- The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House will become a smoke-free site from Saturday 1 January 2022.
- By becoming a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment.
How do I watch the livestream?
- Purchase a livestream ticket. Livestreams are watched through the Sydney Opera House's streaming platform, Stream.
- We recommend you sign in to Stream at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the livestream to ensure you log in smoothly and aren’t experiencing any issues.
- Once you’ve signed in, navigate to the Stream event webpage where you purchased the ticket, by searching the event title in the search function. You will also receive an email notification ahead of the livestream commencing, with a direct link to this same web page where you’ll watch.
Note - Depending on the livestream, you may find two livestream options in your purchase. An accessible livestream option may appear, which includes both closed captions and Auslan interpretation.
- The livestream will begin playing automatically or shortly after the designated start time on the Stream event web page.
- You will have a chance to re-watch the livestream for an indicated length of time, which will be made available on your Stream account following the event. Note, the archived recording will be available approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the livestream.
Can I watch the livestream on any device?
The Stream app is now here! Turn your living room into a theatre or watch on the go. The Stream app allows you to livestream from wherever you are. Alternatively, watch the livestream from your preferred browser.
How to use the Stream app:
Create a free Stream account here.
To be first in the know when new Stream releases are announced, be sure to tick the box to confirm you’re interested in receiving ‘newsletters and product updates from Stream - Sydney Opera House’.
To watch on a TV or an Apple phone or tablet, download the Stream app from the Apple Store. To watch on an Android phone or tablet, download the app from Google Play.
Open the Stream app and tap ‘Sign In’.
Start watching on any device!
Can I share my livestream account with a friend?
You can only watch livestreams on one device at any one time.
Can I use my Sydney Opera House account login when purchasing a livestream ticket?
The streaming platform is managed by our platform partner Vimeo. You will need to create a seperate account on the streaming platform to purchase a livestream ticket.
Once I have watched the livestream, can I watch it again later?
A recording of the livestream will be available to watch on your account for 3 days following the event. Note, the archive recording will be available approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the livestream.
What happens if there is a technical issue with the livestream?
The quality of your live playback experience is largely dependent on the download speed you have from ISP (Internet Service Provider) or mobile provider. Keep in mind that your overall Internet speed can vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to: time of day, Wi-Fi performance, other devices/users utilizing your connection, and the strength of the signal provided by your ISP.
Visit the Help section of our streaming platform at https://stream.sydneyoperahouse.com/help to troubleshoot your issue.
You may also wish to verify that you are using a supported web browser - you can find a list of supported browsers here.
If you have continue to have issues with the livestream during the duration of the event, note you will be able to watch a recording of the Livestream via your account for 30 days following the festival.
If your issue persists, please contact Support at https://stream.sydneyoperahouse.com/contact/support.
Note, support is managed by our streaming platform partner Vimeo.