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KABUL (SW): Sexual deprivation is not a challenge limited to few societies, it largely concerns many countries, and Afghanistan is not immune to it.
In this deeply conservative society, the problem of sexual deprivation is more prominent and alarmingly on rise. Among dozens of women facing harassment on daily bases, Samand and Maryam are the two young girls who shared their experience in this regard with Salam Watandar.
Maryam said pervert men forced her to stay home for a year. Recounting her experience, she further said every time she went out she was teased and harassed. “The quite streets and secluded alleys are not safe even for burqa (hijab) wearing women. It is extremely annoying feeling to be teased by men”, explained Maryam.
Samand, another victim of street harassment, said she has been teased and harassed on the streets by men several times. She told her story with a heavy heart. According to this young girl, there have been only few rare times when she is not teased while going to school or shopping. “Mostly vendors, policemen and young boys make the ludicrous comments”, informed Samand.
“What is your phone number”, is the most common comment passed by the men, said Samand. She has complained to the police many times, but to no avail. According to Samand, the police behave in the same manner as those men who harass women on the streets.
Latifa Zarifi, head of strategy at the Ministry of Women Affairs (MoWA), said the absurd behavior by men against women is the result of the decades of war and instability in the country. “We can overcome the issue by creating awareness”, believed Zarifi.
The harassment men do on the streets or working place is not a new phenomenon in the country. Previously, many women and girls had shared their stories on it with Salam Watandar.
ENDS
