What is the Afghan Women Council?

The Afghanistan Women Council (AWC) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit, and non-sectarian charitable organization that was established in 1986 with the primary objective of providing assistance to Afghan women and children. The organization's core mission is to empower women, enhance their living conditions, and bolster their socio-economic standing within society through active participation in various development initiatives. AWC is duly registered with both the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Afghanistan as a charitable non-governmental organization (NGO).[1]

The Afghanistan Women Council was established with great hope to advocate for a better situation for Afghan women and increase awareness of human rights, women’s rights, refugee rights, children rights, peace-building and democracy issues within the Afghan context.[2]


Attitudes Towards Gender Roles in Afghanistan

When discussing attitudes towards gender roles in Afghanistan, there is a noticeable difference between men and women. Typically, men exhibit more traditional views compared to women. This variation is evident regardless of whether the focus is on basic women's rights or their political empowerment. However, it's important to note that these attitudes are not fixed. Factors such as education level, ethnic background, and urban living can influence these views. Additionally, for women, changes across generations also play a role in shaping their perspectives on gender roles.[3]

The journey of Afghan women towards suffrage and political involvement has been perilous, characterized by tenuous progress in a highly unstable sociocultural and political environment.[4]


Leadership

During the late 1980s, the Council was led by Massouma Esmaty Wardak who emphasized that the AWC’s principal objectives include raising women’s consciousness, making them aware of their rights, and improving women’s living conditions and professional skills. Since its inception in 1986, AWC has been actively engaged in a range of initiatives aimed at supporting Afghan refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan. Furthermore, the organization has been operating a hospital in Kabul since 1992, providing critical healthcare services to the community. AWC holds official registrations with key government bodies and international organizations, including the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, UNDP, UNOPS, and WFP, as an Afghan NGO. Additionally, it is registered with the Ministry of Justice as a recognized social organization.[5]

The organization was run by Wardak and a staff of eight women. Some of these staff members were also members of the PDPA. When the communist regime began in 1978, under Nur Muhammad Taraki, the government gave equal rights to women. Women now had the ability to make decisions about their own lives.[6]

The current president of AWC, Fatana Ishaq Gailani, believes that Afghan women have suffered a great deal during this devastating internecine fighting. They have been killed, have lost their children and suffered much tribulation. They deserve much attention. Gailani has also expressed her belief in uniting Afghanistan as a country to bring women together and to recognize their rights: “We do not recognize north and south in Afghanistan. We recognize only one historical Afghanistan.”[7]


The AWC's Development Activities

The AWC actively encourages community participation in social and economic development through initiatives that involve beneficiaries in decision-making, planning, and project execution. Advisory Committees with diverse representation facilitate this engagement, and local employment ensures communities have a stake in program implementation. [8]

1. Education

AWC offers expertise in a diverse range of areas, including literacy, mathematics, healthcare, parenting, conflict resolution, peace-building, environmental issues, community leadership, rehabilitation, human rights, women's rights, the Rule of Law, transitional justice, good governance, civil society, democracy, peace development, and reconciliation. Furthermore, AWC specializes in community development, healthcare initiatives, alternative livelihood programs, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Since its establishment in 1986, AWC has provided valuable education and support to thousands of Afghan women. [9]

2. Healthcare

Mother and Child Health Clinic: Commencing its services in 2000, the clinic extended support to approximately 25,000 impoverished families residing in the Shahrak Khurasan area of Kabul. Remarkably, it operated independently until 2002, without reliance on external donors. An 11-member team, dedicating 10 hours per day, tirelessly attended to the needs of 60-80 mothers and children daily, offering essential medical care, laboratory tests, and medications, all without financial compensation. [10]

Psychosocial Support and Counselling:

Within the scope of our services, we prioritize psychosocial support and counseling, catering to both individual and group needs. Our primary focus revolves around enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence, fostering improved interpersonal and intergroup relationships, and providing effective tools for managing stress, anger, and grief.[11]

3. Relief and rehabilitation

Relief:

In the past year, AWC extended vital relief assistance to 1,000 women during the winter season and continued to support numerous individuals on a monthly basis. Since 2002, AWC has successfully executed a relief project that benefitted 500 families, encompassing the provision of clean drinking water, essential shelter materials, and sustenance in Paktika and Parwan Provinces. [12]

Rehabilitation:

AWC, in collaboration with community involvement, has successfully implemented drinking water projects aimed at delivering clean and safe drinking water to 25 families. These initiatives have involved the establishment of deep wells equipped with hand pumps to ensure access to clean drinking water. [13]

4. Income generation

Income Generation Training:

Our comprehensive training programs encompass a range of essential topics, including marketing strategies, effective management practices, small business operations, basic accounting principles, entrepreneurship, and legal and gender-related issues.

Vocational Training:

We offer vocational training opportunities in various skill areas, including sewing, knitting, handicrafts production, soap making, vegetable gardening, sweet and pickle production, as well as poultry raising.

Skills Sharing Workshops:

Through skills sharing workshops, women have the platform to exchange knowledge, share their experiences, and impart valuable lessons learned in project-related domains.

Introduction to Micro-Finance Training:

Our training curriculum introduces participants to the concept and purpose of micro-finance, covering aspects such as loans, savings programs, and the formation of Village Organizations.

Micro-Finance:

AWC has empowered 5,000 widows and the most vulnerable women with skills training in localities including Benehesar, Qala e Musa, Qala e Fatullah, Deh Afghanan, Kandahar, Parwan, and Jalalabad. These women have successfully established and managed their own businesses, thereby providing crucial support to their families. In the coming year, AWC is set to extend loans to an additional 1,500 widows and vulnerable women in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, and Jalalabad, enabling them to start and sustain their businesses and achieve financial independence. [14]

5. Rights, peace and democracy

AWC has been a staunch advocate for Afghan women's rights, participating in global human rights, peace-building, and democracy events since 1993. They provide training in these crucial areas to empower Afghan women in both Afghanistan and refugee communities in Pakistan. AWC also conducts seminars and workshops to raise awareness and unity among women, enabling them to assert their rights from family to government levels. Furthermore, AWC encourages women to engage in political processes, informs government officials about rights violations, and collaborates with high-ranking authorities on national and international issues. [15]

6. International support

The Afghanistan Women Council (AWC) places a strong emphasis on the professional development of its staff members. AWC has facilitated a diverse array of training opportunities for its staff, encompassing critical subjects such as human rights, women's and children's rights, labor rights, peace development, democracy, micro-finance, microfinance management, office administration, women's leadership, accounting, social organization, and gender-related topics. Additionally, AWC has sponsored select staff members to attend seminars and workshops in locations like New Delhi and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, AWC has organized numerous in-house seminars and workshops to enhance the knowledge and skills of its staff. [16]


The Importance of Education

Over the past year, UN Women has engaged in a collaborative effort with UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) and IOM (International Organization for Migration) to conduct regular consultations with Afghan women residing within the country. The objective of this initiative is to place women at the forefront of international decision-making, aligning with the principles outlined in our women, peace, and security agenda. During the most recent quarter, women once again communicated to us that their topmost priority is gaining access to education. Shockingly, over four out of five young women and girls who should have the opportunity to pursue education are currently unable to do so. The long-term consequences of this situation cannot be overstated, as it not only affects the women and girls directly impacted but also has far-reaching repercussions on their families and communities.[17]

Furthermore, according to the National Intelligence Council, approximately 3.5 million out of the 9 million Afghan citizens currently enrolled in educational institutions are female. Nevertheless, the educational gender disparity is glaring, with only 17 percent of rural girls having access to secondary education, in stark contrast to their urban counterparts, where 45 percent attend secondary school. Alarmingly, over 80 percent of Afghan women aged 15 and older lack basic literacy skills. The educational landscape in Afghanistan experienced significant growth post-2001, witnessing a more than tenfold increase in the number of schools. However, the ongoing rise in insecurity has led to the closure of many of these educational facilities in recent years. [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  2. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  3. ↑ Manganaro, Lynne L.; Alozie, Nicholas O. (2011-04-01). "Gender Role Attitudes: Who Supports Expanded Rights for Women in Afghanistan?". Sex Roles. 64 (7): 516–529. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9931-6. ISSN 1573-2762.
  4. ↑ Fleschenberg, Andrea (2019), Franceschet, Susan; Krook, Mona Lena; Tan, Netina (eds.), "Afghanistan: Uphill Challenges for Women's Political Rights", The Palgrave Handbook of Women’s Political Rights, Gender and Politics, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 185–199, doi:10.1057/978-1-137-59074-9_13, ISBN 978-1-137-59074-9, retrieved 2023-11-28
  5. ↑ Tétreault, Mary Ann (1994). Women and Revolution in Africa, Asia, and the New World. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-57003-016-1.
  6. ↑ Lawrence Kaplan (1992). Fundamentalism in comparative perspective. Univ of Massachusetts Press. p. 139. Retrieved 2009-03-24. DRA Afghan Minister of.
  7. ↑ "Afghan Women Council calls for united Afghanistan - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  9. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  10. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  11. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  12. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  13. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  14. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  15. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  16. ↑ http://www.afghanistanwomencouncil.org/index.html#features1-3
  17. ↑ "Speech: The women's rights crisis: Listen to, invest in, include, and support Afghan women". UN Women – Headquarters. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  18. ↑ https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/SOCM-AFG_Women.pdf


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