I TRULY BELIEVE THAT BY EMPOWERING WOMEN, WE CAN EMPOWER A NATION
Maryam
“I am President of a women’s civil society association and of a peace and development organization, through which I lead more than 8,000 people – most of them women and girls.
Since 2000, I have worked with national and international organizations that serve Afghan women and youth and ensure their rights to a prosperous life. My professional experience spans more than 22 years in various capacities, 12 of which have been spent directly with relevant local communities, working as a Psychosocial Officer, Gender Advisor, Senior Manager, Social Organizer, Field Protection Officer and Provincial Facilitator.
After the Taliban takeover, as I was leading a civil society organization (CSO) and association, it was very difficult for me to continue my activities but somehow, I managed to continue for six months. After that, my CSO and association license expired, and the Taliban stopped CSOs’ activities across Afghanistan.
For the past 20 years, we had served the community through different activities and services for women. We had created women Shuras (advisory councils) and supported and assisted small businesses directly and indirectly with women in rural and urban areas. Then, all these activities for women were suddenly stopped and not only me, but most women, are facing economic crises as a result of this sudden change in the country.
For me, the most important issue is my safety and security as I was a social and civil society activist.
Before the 24 December ban, I had arranged several events and activities for women. With financial support from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), I gathered small groups of women and girls for outreach and awareness-raising about human and women’s rights, and to share their problems and concerns. I was able to arrange such events without Taliban coordination. But after the 24 December ban, all my activities have fully stopped.
If the situation continues in this way, we women will feel very helpless. No education for girls. No work for women. This situation has really affected my mentality. I’m hopeless for the future.
In Afghanistan, we don’t see anyone supporting Afghan women. But if the international community and UN agencies want, they can support us.
My one message to the international community is that this is not the first time Afghanistan is going through hard times. For 40 to 50 years Afghanistan has been going through crises and difficulties, and especially Afghan women are struggling.
