What can a prison become?
This week, @malala stood at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, where women were once imprisoned under the same pass laws those 20,000 marched against in 1956. Today it's home to South Africa's Constitutional Court.
She was there with South African anti-apartheid stalwarts and Afghan women fighting gender apartheid right now.
"What stood out for me was the visit to the women's prison. Being there was profoundly emotional — political prisoners who, for violating the pass laws, were subjected to immense torture. The same thing is happening to women in Afghanistan now. And yet this place is now a beacon of hope."
— Mariam Safi
Visiting Constitution Hill offers a deeply moving experience that connects the past with present struggles for human rights and justice. Walking through the cold cells once used to incarcerate non-white female prisoners under brutal pass laws reveals the harsh reality these women faced, including isolation and unimaginable torture. What makes this history resonate today is the parallel drawn with the current situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan. As Mariam Safi noted, the suffering endured by political prisoners in South Africa echoes the oppression Afghan women continue to face under gender apartheid regimes. This reflection underscores how spaces of immense pain can be reclaimed as symbols of resilience and hope. Constitution Hill’s evolution into the Constitutional Court symbolizes a triumph of justice over injustice. It reminds us that places once used to suppress can become beacons for progress when coupled with collective action and legal empowerment. For advocates of gender equality and human rights, this transformation offers inspiration and a framework for change. Personally, I found the story of these women—and the thousands who marched in 1956 against pass laws—both heart-wrenching and empowering. It’s a testament to the power of solidarity and resilience that such a grim place now stands as a monument to freedom and constitutional democracy. Reflecting on this makes me hopeful about the potential for similar progress in other parts of the world facing gender-based oppression today.