Category: Women

Customary pressures deny girls education, work, and spouse choice

“My mother always told me to marry the man she chose. She said I had to accept, otherwise people would gossip about us. When the suitor came, my parents met him themselves. My father said, ‘What does the girl need to do? We have seen him and his family. It would be shameful—what will people say?’ They never realized he was addicted to drugs. I am not satisfied, and my father sacrificed me for the sake of customs and people’s opinions because I could not meet the boy before the engagement.” she says.

Miscarriage in Afghanistan; from chromosomal disorders to family blame

A number of doctors in Kabul told Salam Watandar that chromosomal disorders are among the leading causes of miscarriage — an issue that doctors describe as a silent risk for pregnant women.

‘My last vertebra was damaged’; stories of 15 women who faced physical violence

Asma, a 33-year-old resident of Kabul, says that although she covers most of the household expenses, she still faces physical violence—violence that has caused both psychological and physical harm. She says, “I cover about 90% of the household expenses and all the needs of my daughters. Yet I have been repeatedly beaten by my husband—slapped, punched, and kicked. The violence was so severe that my last vertebra was damaged, and now I cannot sit or stand properly. My husband beats me and asks why I do not put money in his pocket. This is extremely humiliating and painful because, even with financial independence, I still face violence.”

UNICEF calls for lifting ban on female UN staff in Afghanistan

On International Women’s Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted that women and girls in Afghanistan are entitled to equal access to rights, justice, and opportunities, and called for these rights to be safeguarded.

International women’s day; UN says women have only 64% of men’s rights

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said on the occasion of International Women’s Day that women hold only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men.

Mother-fetus blood incompatibility; infant deaths and lack of family awareness

Saniya, one of these women, said sadly,
“My first child looked healthy, but after a while, he died. Later, I found out that the reason was the incompatibility between my blood and my child’s blood. In later pregnancies, I had to stop breastfeeding and feed the baby with formula so that the baby’s condition would improve.”

ILO: we support the education and work of women in Afghanistan

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has announced that it supports education and job opportunities for women in Afghanistan.

Tafriq; women’s legal and religious right, but fraught with challenges in practice

Ziba Zuhal, a legal expert, says in this regard, “According to the Civil Code of Afghanistan, women can claim Tafriq (judicial separation) in the following cases: non-payment of alimony, causing harm, the husband’s infertility, and absence for more than three years. Under the Civil Code of Afghanistan and Islamic Sharia, the authority to pronounce divorce belongs to the man.”

Women achieving self-reliance through mushroom farming

An initiative by a woman in Kabul to establish a mushroom farm has not only led to her own financial independence but has also created employment and income opportunities for dozens of other women. Fazela Sorosh began mushroom farming in Kabul two years ago with a small investment, driven purely by personal interest. She says this initiative has now become a stable source of income for herself and many other women.

Fasting during pregnancy and breastfeeding; a threat to mother and child health

Yasamin, 39 years old and in her eighth month of pregnancy, shares her experience of fasting without consulting a doctor. She says, “I am in the eighth month of my pregnancy and I am fasting. I haven’t visited a doctor so far, but I continue to fast regularly. During the day, I feel extremely hungry and thirsty—my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. Since I started fasting, I have noticed that the movements of my baby in the womb have decreased and are not as before.”

A home without son is incomplete; stories of girls who face discrimination

Chaman, a 35-year-old from Faryab, talks about the impact of this behavior on herself. She says, “These words have had a negative effect on my mental health. Hearing phrases like ‘A house without a son is not a house, it’s like a dark house’ makes us feel worthless and even fills us with anger.”

Child marriage in Afghanistan

Aziza, a 17-year-old resident of Maimana city, the center of Faryab province, was forced to marry at the age of 14 because her younger brother suffered a birth-related neck injury and the family was unable to afford his treatment. Aziza’s marriage was seen as the only option to improve the family’s situation.