SHEBERGHAN (SW): Women in Jawzjan province claim they are facing rampant sexual harassment and corruption while seeking government jobs.
A number of women faced with such situation told Salam Watandar the level of sexual harassment and corruption in public offices have increased.
Fawzia and Sharifa, two such Jawzjani women, said the situation is unbearable. They said officials in public sector take the situation for granted, and believe they can get away with this while women are under immense psychological pressure. The affected women said their repeated complaints in this regard have fallen on deaf ears in the government.
A number of other women said they have quit their jobs due to sexual harassment in the public sector.
Maghfirat Samimi, regional head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), has also raised concerns over harassment of women in Jawzjan. She said some powerful individuals and even members of the parliament interfere in appointment of public sector employees in Jawzjan.
Meanwhile, the provincial administration has vowed to take effective measures to resolve these issues. Mawlawi Lutfullah, provincial governor, told a consultative session with women the culprits involved in harassment of women and corruption would be referred to the legal organs.
It is feared the prevailing state of affairs would severely hamper the political participation and empowerment of women in the province.
ENDS
