Sacrificed for family disputes; the story of women given in ‘Baad’
Giving women in baad — a practice aimed at settling disputes between families — remains a harmful and ongoing custom in some parts of Afghanistan.
Category: Women
UNFPA: Investing in more midwives helps to save mothers’ lives
The United Nations Population Fund in Afghanistan (UNFPA), on the occasion of the International Day of the Midwife, has announced that in order to save the lives of mothers and newborns, one million more midwives need to be trained.
Domestic violence; a threat to the lives of pregnant women and their fetuses
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.
Women turn to online libraries as physical access remains limited
A number of women interviewed by Salam Watandar say that social restrictions have limited their access to in-person educational materials, while online educational resources have become the primary means for continuing their education.
Emotional support; a religious right of women in married life
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.
OCHA: Returning women and girls are among the most vulnerable
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has stated that women and girls returning to the country are among the most vulnerable.
Adoption and its hidden consequences; the stories of adopted girls
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.
Informal arbitration; a reference for resolving women’s legal problems in Daikundi
A number of women in Daikundi say they prefer informal arbitration over formal legal institutions to resolve their legal disputes.
‘Omid’ cookie-baking workshop; a source of income for girls in Maimana
A young girl in Maimana, the capital of Faryab province, has created an income source for herself and several other girls by starting a small cookie-baking workshop.
UN supports over 18,000 women entrepreneurs
The United Nations in Afghanistan (UN Afghanistan) says it has supported 18,616 women entrepreneurs across the country.
Closely spaced pregnancies; from lack of awareness to family pressure
Some women in Sar-e Pol say that a lack of awareness about the importance of birth spacing, along with family pressure, beliefs, and traditions, has led them to have repeated pregnancies. They add that this has caused serious health problems and, in some cases, miscarriage.
Between opportunity and concern; women’s experience with AI in Afghanistan
Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 20 women in Afghanistan show that AI is mostly used by women in areas such as education—especially language learning—editing writing, content creation, accessing health information, and generating business ideas. However, alongside these opportunities, deep concerns about privacy, data security, and the accuracy of responses have made their experience with AI complex and ambivalent.
