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KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers wearing brightly colored scarves under their helmets stared wide-eyed at Afghan women entering the civil military operations center in downtown Khowst City.
The women, clad in light blue burkas covering their bodies from head to toe, provided a stark contrast to the female Soldiers in multi-cam uniforms attending a shura.
It wasn’t any ordinary shura. More than 270 women gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day, sponsored by the Director of Women’s Affairs in Khowst City, March 8. It was a day to celebrate being a woman and to discuss changes needed to increase women’s rights.
Women from various U.S. Army units, including the 3-19th Agricultural Development Team, the 870th Military Police Company, and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division were invited to attend the event.
“It was the first time coalition forces had been invited to attend the International Women’s Day in Khowst province,” said U.S. Army Maj. Rosemary Reed, 95th Civil Affairs, Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, and a resident of Tacoma, Wash. “It is a sign that they have an increased trust and interest in working with us and may continue to do this in the future.”
It was a day not only celebrated by Afghan women but by women in countries all over the world. International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911.
Concurrent events celebrating women’s accomplishments were held in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, India and Afghanistan, to name a few.
In a country where women’s rights have often taken a backseat, it was especially important for key leaders from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Khowst Province to meet and address women’s issues and concerns openly and publicly, said Reed.
Events for the International Women’s Day in Khowst City included speeches from Khowst Provincial Governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi and key female leaders in the community. It also included poetry readings from several high school students and a song by several local girls celebrating the contributions their mothers make to society.
“Our government is trying to do better for women and we are trying to bring equality to women,” said Naeemi.
He praised the strength of Afghan women in the face of war and the loss of loved ones. Naeemi also promised to try to improve their legal rights. One of the issues he addressed is the practice of families giving young girls before they turn 18 to old men for marriage.
“We will work to solve these issues until our grandkids do not have to pick up a weapon for fighting, but can go to school for education,” Naeemi said.
He told the women about a five-year plan to build schools and parks, and to increase women’s education. In addition, Naeemi reminded the women that a child’s education starts at home. It is a mother’s job to understand how to raise a child and is important to instill in the child manners and respect for women from the beginning, he said.
“This is a woman’s problem. Women raise men,” said Hakmina, a female provincial council member. “You have to teach a man how to live and you need to teach him how to respect his mother.”
The presence of the governor at the International Women’s Day event showed he was supportive of addressing those concerns and issues involving women, Reed said.
“It shows there is a commitment from GIRoA, whether that be through a project or certain laws,” Reed said.
Coalition forces gave kites to children. They also handed out book bags filled with blankets, radios, and the Afghan constitution to women who attended the event.
“It was nice to be part of something that is helping build the infrastructure of Afghanistan, especially since it’s helping women come up in society,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Julissa Matute Velasquez, a 870th MP team leader and a resident of San Jose, Calif.
For U.S. Army Spc. Erica Ontai, a human resource specialist also with the 870th MP Company and a resident of Tracey, Calif., being part of the event on her first mission made her feel honored.
A raffle was held to give away a solar dehydrator, and coalition forces along with GIRoA officials gave certificates of appreciation to women who had gone above and beyond for women’s rights.
As the event ended, the Afghan women, once again covered with blue burkas, filed out to return to their everyday lives. This day, however, they had joined with their sisters across the world in celebrating the joys of womanhood, and left with a purpose; ensuring that Afghanistan continues to make strides toward equality for women.
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2011 01:12 |
| Story ID: | 66755 |
| Location: | KHOWST PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan women join world in celebrating women’s rights, by SPC Tobey White, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
