Some say there are two Afghanistan's - the one the world sees changing, and the hidden, scarier one that exists for women.
Suffering from decades of poverty, war, and oppressive rule, Afghanistan is now at a pivotal point in its history. The historic democratic elections of 2004 have laid the groundwork for democracy, but there is much work to be done to continue this momentum – especially in the area of women's rights.
For decades Afghan women were denied the most basic human rights.
Before the Soviets, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda, Afghan women lived much like women in the U.S. today. They held positions in medicine, business, education, and government. Yet under the Taliban all this changed. Suddenly women were not allowed to attend school, to work – or even laugh out loud. They could not appear in public without a male relative and they were forced to cover up, head-to-toe, in a burqa.
What the world often sees is the positive news: There is a new constitution that extends equality to women. 25% of the seats in lower Parliament are now reserved for women. 65% of women registered to vote in 2004 and in 2005 thousands of women risked their lives to cast ballots – electing an unprecedented 62 women to Parliament.
But despite this progress Afghan women are facing enormous obstacles.
- 85.1% of women have no formal education
- 74% of girls drop out of school by 5th grade
- Only 1% of girls in rural communities attends school
- Nearly 79% of women are illiterate
- The average salary is just 48 cents a day
- Maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world
The greatest danger?
Lack of security. Because conservative leaders use security concerns to justify returning to Taliban-era monitoring of women's movements and views. We can not let this happen again.
Help Change the Life of a Woman Like Azada Today.
Azada was the third wife of an Afghan car dealer who went back and forth between wives. “I endured the cruelty of my husband because I didn’t have other choices,” says Azada. With the help of Women for Women International, Azada received rights awareness training and also learned a trade to help her earn a feasible income. “I never thought that one day I would have the opportunity to support myself without a man,” she says. “Now I can do it. I am doing it!”
Help a woman like Azada right now.
Women for Women International is Helping Create Brighter Futures for the Women of Afghanistan
At Women for Women International we are working each day to help women retain and grow their new found freedoms. In just 5 years we've helped nearly 10,000 women in 16 communities. We provided literacy training and important rights awareness training. Women get health and birth attendant training so they can bring basic health care to their communities.
Women are receiving important job skills training and literally transforming their lives and their family's lives by opening beauty parlors (a real favorite!), knitting, tailoring, jam production and more.
Through your support and donations, Women for Women International helped register women to vote in the historic democratic elections of 2004. Day by day we are giving women back their voice.
Your Help is the Key to Their Future
Perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, the women of Afghanistan are so excited to join the programs offered by Women for Women International. They understand that education and job skills training will help them rebuild their lives. Your support helps protect their rights and restore their voice.
Women for Women International is Working!
- 9,262 women served in 16 communities since 2002
- Expanded programs to reach beyond Kabul
- Taught 2,690 women to read and write
- Graduated 2,037 women in health training and birth attendance
