Findings from Salam Watandar, based on interviews with experts and 20 women who have experienced gender inequality within their families, show that this issue has had serious physical and psychological effects on women.
Giving women in baad — a practice aimed at settling disputes between families — remains a harmful and ongoing custom in some parts of Afghanistan.
A number of youth in Samangan province say they are working to promote a culture of reading among the people, particularly the younger generation, by establishing private libraries and cultural institutions.
Doctors warn that violence against women during pregnancy has irreversible consequences. However, some women, in interviews with Salam Watandar, describe experiencing severe violence during this period—violence that has even resulted in miscarriages.
Shahabuddin Delawar, General President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), said that a specialized hospital for children with congenital heart defects will be built in Kabul in the near future.
Increased self-confidence, skill development, improved educational status, financial independence, and access to better career opportunities are among the achievements that youth say they have gained by making use of available opportunities. These accomplishments demonstrate that opportunities can fundamentally transform the lives of youth and open new paths toward progress and success.
Islamic Sharia and legal experts consider emotional support one of the fundamental pillars of married life and emphasize love, respect, and kind treatment between husband and wife — a right whose violation can even provide grounds for filing for divorce. However, a number of women complain about the lack of affection and emotional understanding in their marriages, saying that the situation has placed them under psychological pressure.
Findings from interviews conducted by Salam Watandar with 20 students who have come to Kabul from 8 provinces to continue their education indicate that rising economic hardship is one of their main challenges.
Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 13 girls who were given to adoption show that these girls face identity confusion and, in some cases, discriminatory behavior.
According to OCHA, humanitarian needs in Afghanistan are expected to remain high this year, and it emphasizes that timely, flexible funding is critical to sustaining life-saving aid.
The Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) covering Afghanistan says children in the country are still paying a high price for unexploded ordnance.
Findings by Salam Watandar from interviews with 30 youth—20 girls and 10 boys—show that having practical skills, in addition to academic qualifications, plays an important role in job selection. Youth who have learned practical skills such as computer use and English are more likely to be employed in related fields. In contrast, youth who lack practical skills are mostly engaged in jobs unrelated to their field of study.
