By Kate Hughes, Channel 16
Support Afghan WomenTen years ago Afghan women were promised a bright future. After decades of civil war and repressive Taliban rule, they are once again able to work, send their daughters to school, and stand for parliament. But now these hard-won gains are under threat. Women fear they will be abandoned as international military forces prepare to withdraw by the end of 2014.
An international campaign has been launched. “Green scarves for solidarity with Afghan women” aims to support Afghan women’s groups, keeping their fight for better rights at the forefront of the ongoing struggle in Afghanistan.
Afghan Women's Network
Despite increasing challenges, a brave and bold women’s movement is pushing for change. The Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) is a mobile and active campaigning group and a well-established network for the growing number of women’s organisations operating in the country.
“One of the major concerns is the absence of Afghan women in discussions and decisions on peace,” says Samira Hamidi, AWN’s director. “No negotiation or decision can be complete if half the population’s views are ignored.”
AWN specialise in global advocacy to shape the country’s future, as well as in country campaigning. In the run up to the 2009 presidential elections, AWN launched the 5 Million Women Campaign. The campaign mobilised women to influence the political agenda of candidates. To give it a strong visual identity women wore green scarves edged in red and black stripes (the other colours in the flag of Afghanistan) into which they sewed messages such as: “Our vote is our future”. Men joining the campaign wore green caps, edged with red and black.
Young Women for Change
Another group trailblazing women’s activism in Afghanistan is Young Women for Change (YWFC). Founded in April 2011, Young Women for Change is made up of young activists who have grown up in the more liberal Afghanistan of the last 10 years.
YWFC organised Afghanistan’s first ever march against street harassment July this year, something that would have been unimaginable, and frankly impossible, 10 years ago.
A tough environment
Though Afghan women’s rights campaigners messages and issues may echo feminist issues globally - their campaigning environment is exponentially tougher. One must remember that women in Afghanistan still face acid attacks, violence in the home or even being killed for working. This summer, two women in Kandahar were murdered on their way home from their offices for this reason.
Activists and others globally have an important role to play supporting the struggle of Afghan women. In the UK our country contributes troops to the intervention and large sums of money in aid. Our country has a role and a stake in Afghanistan and we, the people, have a role to play in lobbying and monitoring our government.
On December 5th the international community will meet in Bonn, Germany for a conference to chart the course for international involvement in Afghanistan beyond 2014. It is a vital opportunity for world leaders to reaffirm their commitment to Afghanistan’s women and girls, and ensure that their access to basic services – so vital to Afghanistan’s future – is supported for the next decade.
How can you help?
We are calling on people to wear green scarves in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and to upload images to a photo petition. These images will be handed over to ministers and used to build a photo wall at the Bonn conference, demonstrating the movement of global solidarity with Afghan women.
Aqlima Moradi from YWFC sums up the importance of global solidarity by saying “the fight for human rights is something that is everyone’s responsibility”. It is our responsibility to act.
