International Women's Day 2009 in Afghanistan
Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women
As part of a United Nations in Afghanistan week-long campaign, stories dedicated to the women of the country were published by UNIFEM Afghanistan and UNAMA 
, a photo exhibition depicting the lives of Afghan women was displayed in Kabul and a number of events took place acoss the country...
International Women's Day 2009 - Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls
Statement by Inés Alberdi, Executive Director, UNIFEM - International Women's Day is an occasion to reflect on where we are in our struggle for equality, peace and development, and a chance to unite and mobilize for meaningful change. This year there is much to celebrate. The vision women marched for over a century ago, of a life free of poverty and violence, has spread to countries around the globe... more from UNIFEM
events
08 Mar | "Come, Pray for Peace with Justice"
Women in Afghanistan to Mark International Women's Day with Public Prayer for Peace and Justice
United Nations - To mark International Women's Day, women across Afghanistan will come together for a Prayer for Peace with Justice. The gatherings will take place at 10:00 a.m., 8 March throughout the country in Kandahar, Bamyan, Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Daikundi and Jalalabad. At the gatherings, the women will wear scarves whose blue colour matches that of the burka, the garment widely regarded as a symbol of women's oppression under the Taliban regime... more
View the Fact Sheet [PDF]: English | Dari
Read the Press Release [PDF]
05 Mar | Special Event: Panel discussion on "Afghan women speak: Eight years later, challenges and hopes"
Organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United States Mission and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan.
View the webcast (1 hour, 33 minutes): English | Dari
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More webcasts can be found at United Nations Webcast
news
05 Mar | Afghan Women Speak of Challenges and Hopes
UNIFEM - Three Afghan advocates for women's rights spoke of the multiple challenges facing women and girls in Afghanistan in a panel discussion hosted by UNIFEM and co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations in the ECOSOC chamber at UN Headquarters on 5 March... more from UNIFEM
05 Mar | Proud literate woman in Bamyan
Fatema, a woman from the Naw Abad village of Bamyan province and a mother of seven children is actively participating in a new literacy class. Fatema is 34 years old but after being in class for just three months, she has learned how to read and write, skills that she never learned during her childhood. "When I read my text books and learn something new, I feel a great sense of pride and honour in my heart. I am no longer an illiterate woman," she said... more from UNAMA
05 Mar | Development not possible without the participation of women
Afghanistan's first woman mayor of the country's newest and probably poorest province, Daikundi, says she's determined to bring changes to her province. Azra Jaffari, 30, was appointed two and a half months ago. She's represented her district at the emergency and constitutional Loya Jirgas, worked in the commission for the Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga as a public outreach expert and she's worked with a welfare rights organization... more from UNAMA
05 Mar | Media Advisory | Breakfast Press Briefing to be held: Afghan Women Speak: Eight Years Later - Challenges and Hopes
04 Mar | Peace with Justice for the Women of Afghanistan
The situation for women in Afghanistan is very mixed. There's a lot to point to institutionally in terms of what has been accomplished in the last five years. The National Action Plan for Women and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy contain specific provisions on gender equality... more from UNAMA
03 Mar | Education for girls: The key to Afghanistan's development
One woman in the province of Nangarhar has dedicated her life to teaching women in Afghanistan and is following in the footsteps of a family tradition of teachers. "If we want Afghanistan to be a prosperous country we should make sure Afghan women are fully engaged in the development process of the country," said Zarghona, 53, who has worked as a teacher for 35 years... more from UNAMA
02 Mar | Afghan women can also bring change, even when given little support
A prominent female journalist is continuing her campaigning for women's rights in Afghanistan by broadcasting radio programmes and supervising projects for women in Mazar-i-Sharif. Mubeena Khairandish, 29, is a well known voice and face on the media scene in Mazar, as the manager of the popular women's radio station, Rabia Balkh... English Dari Pashto
01 Mar | International Women's Day: Vocational training and Literacy in Kapisa
In a valley in Kapisa just north of Kabul, there is a village called Khamzargar. Here, nestled in amongst tall trees and small irrigation streams there is a house filled with the voices of women. Two sisters, Maqbolah, 30, and 50-year-old Mojigul are part of a vocational training project to learn a skill, sewing in this case, as well as learning to read and write... more from UNAMA
UNIFEM