Manizha

About Manizha

Manizha was announced as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in December 2020.

Manizha is an independent musician who has been supporting UNHCR since October 2019, helping to raise awareness for the UN agency’s campaigns and assisting in fundraising for the most vulnerable people of concern in the Russian Federation.

Manizha's involvement with UNHCR is driven by her personal story, which she uses as a tool for powerment and solidarity. In 1994 during the Tajikistan civil war, a shell hit her family house, forcing them to flee the country and move to Russia. 

In 2019, Manizha released a video clip to her song "Mama" to help spotlight the issue of domestic violence as part of an awareness-raising campaign she launched that year. The campaign launched the SILSILA mobile application on Google Play and Apple Store, providing an alarm button for those who have experienced abuse at home.

Manizha maintains that refugees and migrants should be able to enjoy fundamental rights and have equal opportunities to realize their potential and succeed in life. UNHCR Russia works with Manizha on events to speak about her own experience and to meet with refugee women to discuss the issues they are faced with.