Kabul – The Women’s Freedom Network (FWN) has issued a statement expressing concern over the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and has called on the international community, human rights organizations, media outlets, and the United Nations to take practical and effective measures to support the fundamental rights and freedoms of Afghan women.
The statement notes that women and girls in Afghanistan are experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the country’s contemporary history. Deprivation of education, restrictions on employment and social participation, reduced access to educational and healthcare services, and increasing social isolation have affected the lives of millions of women and girls.
The Women’s Freedom Network also referred to recent events in Herat and the protests organized by women and girls who, according to the organization, had gathered peacefully to defend their rights to education, freedom, and human dignity. The statement emphasized that these developments have heightened concerns regarding the state of human rights and women’s rights in Afghanistan and demonstrate that women and girls continue to require broad support and solidarity.
According to the statement, the denial of education for girls, extensive restrictions on women’s participation in public life, rising poverty, economic dependency, psychological challenges, and diminishing opportunities for growth and development are among the most significant issues facing Afghan women today. The organization warned that the continuation of these conditions could have profound consequences for the future of Afghan society.
The Women’s Freedom Network further outlined its objectives and activities, which include supporting girls’ education, providing learning opportunities for students excluded from formal education, empowering women through vocational training and skills development programs, delivering health education, raising awareness of women’s rights, fostering solidarity among women and civil society activists, and documenting the challenges and restrictions faced by women and girls in Afghanistan.
The network emphasized that education, awareness, and women’s participation are fundamental pillars of development and social justice, and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its activities in accordance with the principles of human rights, equality, justice, and human dignity.
In conclusion, the Women’s Freedom Network called on the international community not to remain silent regarding the situation of Afghan women and urged governments and institutions to take effective and concrete actions to support their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
