Afghan Peace and Democracy Act (APDA) celebrated the 8th of March, International Women’s solidarity day in Peshawar with the support of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through Alternatives. Women Activists of APDA member NGOs, teachers of Afghan refugee’s female schools and Afghan scholars took participation in this event. Mr. Sarwar Mamound, Coordinator Afghan Desk, in his opening speech highlighted that space for the Afghan women have been guaranteed by the new Afghan constitution. He said: “Afghan women have suffered a lot of miseries in the near past due to the discrimination of women rights in political, social, economical and cultural fields. Fortunately the new constitution has opened a new window for Afghan women to exercise their equal rights in all fields of life. This constitution has guaranteed special quota for Afghan women in the coming parliament to have strong voice in the future legislation procedure of Afghanistan. We hope that through this kind of political empowerment Afghan women will be able to make their own destiny by themselves.”

Principals, teachers and students’ leaders of Zarghuna and Jami Afghan Refugees’ High Schools based in Peshawar delivered their speeches on this event. In their speeches they highlighted the role of Afghan women in the post conflict situation in Afghanistan and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan socio-economic structure.

Assistant Professor Muhammad Anwar Hazim in his speech pointed out: “Afghan women have been subordinated, subjugated and exploited during the past as well as recently in many areas of Afghanistan by overt violence, repression and more insidiously by patriarchal constructs that has entrenched the power imbalance in our society. Domestic violence, less representation in governments, no contribution in household and other decision-makings, withholding from access to food, education and mobility at community level, victimization by the harsh customs, and victimization by visible crimes to invisible repressions like son preference have affected women in our region and Afghanistan and they suffer on all counts”.

Mr. Abdul Shakoor Popalzai Administrator of Sanayee Development Foundation (SDF) in his speech pointed out: “Afghan women should play their due role in the country’s rehabilitation. Afghan women are deprived from their legitimate rights for many years. Afghanistan’s new constitution guarantees their equal social, political and cultural rights. Women can have great performances in some fields then men such as health and education where women can play great role and good performance. Also women’s performance in communication and office secretariat is more effective and has good results. We hope that Afghan women will have the courage to properly empower themselves through the provisions in the new Afghan Constitution adopted by the recent constitutional Loya Jirga”.

Ms. Karokhel, representative of Afghan Women Educational Center (AWEC) presented her poetry regarding the Afghan women role in Afghan society and informed the audience about their activities for the socio-political empowerment of Afghan women. She thanked APDA and the Jami and Zarghoona high schools for this function to celebrate the international women day.

Ms. Adila Jan, teacher of Zarghoona High school said: “We are grateful to APDA and Zarghoona and Jami High Schools’ leadership for this great function on the occasion of International women Day -- 8th March. It gives us more energy and encouragement to work better in education field to educate the new Afghan generation especially Afghan girls who have been deprived from their legitimate rights such as the right of education and the right of health services in the harsh ruling times. We, women, will be empowered if we get knowledge and education equal as men. If we have no idea of our rights how can we struggle for it or get it?”.

Representatives of Sanayee Development Foundation (SDF), Afghan Study Center (ASC), Afghan Women Network (AWN), Afghan Women Educational Center (AWEC), Afghan Desk of HRCP, Afghan Women Resource Center (AWRC), Jami and Zarghoona High Schools academic and leading staff made their active participation in this celebration and expressed their gratitude to APDA for organizing it on this great day for the women folk.