KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – According to a recent U.N. report, women in Afghanistan have a very difficult way of life.
Celebrating Afghan national Mother’s Day, Task Force La Fayette headquarters held a women’s shura June 20 in Forward Operating Base Morales Frazier, Afghanistan.
With an audience of Afghan, French and American women, the shura was designed to create bonds with the women in the Afghan society, underlining their role and importance.
More than 15 Afghan professional women, mostly lawyers, doctors and professors attended the shura.
Each participant addressed the assembly on subjects such as education, hygiene and health. They shared experiences, explained daily issues, cultural differences and the progress in the province and the country. Coalition forces also warned the guests of an increasing trend of the insurgency to use children in fights in Kapisa Province.
French army 1st Lt. Virginie Sandrock, the shura’s organizer, said the event was a success.
“The shura went well,” said Sandrock. “Our objective was to create a first set of contacts, which has been achieved. The mere fact that the women showed up is already a victory! We believe that our welcome and the exchange it led to will be conveyed throughout the Nijrab District, especially the local school where two of the women present today work on a daily basis. We shall not lose this precious bond as we will do the utmost to bolster it by renewing such endeavours.”
The Afghan women enjoyed the exchange with the coalition forces.
“I am glad of this opportunity to discuss the future of these children I have been taking care of over 40 years,” said Fawzia Zubeida, a member of the women’s shura at the Badakhshi Bazaarin Nijrab District, and an English professor who’s in charge of the school. “I have asked my new friends to come visit our school.”
According to Capt. Gaëlle Rothureauthe the shura achieved its goal and allowed the participants to meet and work to improve the future of women in Afghanistan.