Paktya women gather to voice concerns

PAKTYA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.05.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Women from various districts throughout the conservative Pashtun province of Paktya gathered to voice their concerns at a women’s shura hosted by the director of Paktya’s Department of Women’s Affairs, Halima Khazan, at the Gardez Women’s Development Center, May 1.

More than 50 women attended the shura and discussed topics including education, healthcare, midwife training and selling products in the local bazaars.

Members of the Paktya Female Engagement Team, which consists of personnel from the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 2-45th Oklahoma Agribusiness Development Team from Task Force Duke, officials from U.S. Assistance for International Development, as well as representatives from Combined Joint Task Force-101, attended the shura.

“It is the strength of Afghan women that drew me here,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kristine Petermann, the Regional Command-East FET program manager, from Harrison Township, Mich. “Someday the rest of the world will know their strength.”

According to Khazan, there are local shuras in most districts throughout the province, but representatives rarely come together due to cultural and travel restrictions. In the majority of the Paktya districts, women are required to wear burqas and must have a male family member escort them when leaving their homes.

Paktya Deputy Gov. Abdul Rahman Mangal opened the event.

“The reason we are holding this shura is to discuss all of the issues and problems women in Paktya are facing,” said Mangal. “The government is here to help women and their children.”

Following his remarks, the deputy governor departed, leaving the women to voice their concerns openly with coalition forces and the director of women’s affairs.

A major concern expressed by women from several districts was the need for more schools and teachers so more children can get an education. Khazan said education for women is also very important because a large portion of the female population in Paktya is illiterate.

A woman from the Ahmad Abad District talked about the success of their midwife training program, but also expressed the need for upgrades for the training center. She discussed the lack of understanding between the government- and district-level leadership, and the people in the villages.
“Leaders from the districts need to visit every village and find out what women need,” said the woman.

A woman from Gardez area addressed an issue that appeared to hit home with the other women present. Women have gardens, animals, sewing and tailoring skills, and other means of producing items that could help provide a larger income for their families, but they are prohibited from opening shops in local bazaars.

“Women face a lot of challenges, but we are only requesting projects we can actually benefit from,” she said.

When all was said and done, the group of women appeared satisfied with the issues addressed. A local Gardez woman who partnered with USAID to initiate projects for women in Paktya Province, said women need to continue taking their concerns to their local women’s shura leaders, who will then address those concerns with the director of women’s affairs.

“We need to solve each others’ issues together as one,” she said.

• Date Taken: 05.05.2011
• Date Posted: 05.04.2011 16:55
• Story ID: 69851
• Location: PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF