Kunar celebrates International Women’s Day

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan –  More than 150 women from eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province joined with women from the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team, 984th Military Police Company, Task Force Rock and the Department of State to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Fatima Girl’s High School in Asadabad, March 8. 

The event included songs, poetry and speeches from key government leaders of the province, as well as students and teachers from the school.

 

“We are celebrating this day in a time when our women are facing huge challenges,” said Husan Bano Ghazanfar, the Minster of Women’s Affairs. “Hopefully the problems will be ended soon. Meanwhile our women within the districts have witnessed a lot of violations to their rights, yet they still contribute to bring positive changes in their political, economic and social situations.”

Topics covered during the event included the history of International Women’s Day, women’s rights issues and violations, development opportunities for women and the responsibility of community leaders to support women.

“Most women are under the control of men,” said Hashima Shariq of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. “Women need to be educated on their rights and understanding the law.”

Eva Shinagel, a guest speaker and the Kunar PRT Department of State Representative, also took part in the event, sharing experiences from her life, as well as advice to the women of Kunar.

“It is important to have communities that work together to achieve their goals,” Shinagel said. “One person alone can only do so much, but two or three or ten women together can achieve a great deal. I would even say that a group of women working together, toward the same goal, with time, can achieve almost anything.”

Nasima Shafiqk, the Director of Women’s Affairs also reminded attendees of the importance of women in the role of development. 

“We know that development is not possible without women,” Shafiq said. “That is why we will continue to target issues concerning women’s rights throughout the Kunar Province.” 

Despite differences in cultures and languages, the hospitality of the Afghan host was not lost on their American guests.    

“Everyone seemed to be excited about having us there,” said U.S. Army Capt. Kuhlman, the Kunar PRT’s logistics officer. “Even though there was a language barrier, it didn’t stop the Kunari women from approaching us and making us feel at home.”