Born in 1954, Fatana Ishaq Gailani, who comes from an influential family of Kabul, has become one of the most prominent advocates of Afghan women's rights. During the past several years, after she had sought refue in Pakistan in late 1978 due to her opposition to the Communist regime of Noor Mohammad Tarraki, she began her humanitarian work in 1980 by raising medical assistance for Afghan refugees. She later set up a health clinic and High School and Monthly in 1995 to serve the women and children in the fundamentalist-dominated refugee environment of Peshawar. She has, however, come into the limelight since the establishment of various women's gatherings around the world. She received the United Nations Association of Spain Award for Peace in 1999.