Women’s Day in Afghanistan

On March 8 we not only remember those women who fought their battles in the past, but also those who stand up for their rights in the present and make their voice heard bravely. The Woman Affairs Department was established in Baghlan Province under the supervision of the government of Afghanistan with a view to improving the situation of women. The mission of the Department is to assist women and represent their rights. Recently the HUN PRT procured 200 food packs and blankets within a CIMIC project to contribute to the success of this mission. Together with the director of the Department, the NCO of the CIMIC cell in charge of women’s affairs distributed these items among the women in need.

More than 100 invited guests gathered in the garden of the Department to celebrate the Women’s Day together. Several governmental and religious leaders attended the event with the intention of representing that they recognize the women’s efforts and the need to pay more attention to them in the future. “Life is like a garden, and women are the gardeners" – as one of the religious leaders said. In their speeches, the women stressed that they want to assert their rights at last and stop the violence against them. There is a movement that has begun in the cities but the women living in villages are still in a very backward situation in this regard.

The speeches were followed by songs performed by schoolgirls and a theatrical performance. The ceremony closed with a real Afghan banquet.