A renowned advocate of human and women's rights, Dr. Samar was appointed as the inaugural chair of the AIHRC in June 2002. Prior to her appointment as the chair of AIHRC, she was elected as the vice chair of the Emergency Loya Jirga and also served as the deputy chair and Minister of Women's Affairs in the post-Taliban Interim Administration of Afghanistan IAA. She also served as UN's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan between 2005 and 2009.
Dr. Samar has participated in many international forums on human rights, democracy and transitional justice. Her contributions to the same have been widely recognized and she is the recipient of several prestigious awards.
