Raising Afghan women’s voices
Partawmina Hashemee is a passionate advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan.
She and Christina Lamb, senior Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Times and author of The Sewing Circles of Herat captivated a packed Frontline Club audience in mid-October with their stories of what life is really like for women in Afghanistan seven years after the fall of the Taliban.
People came from miles away to hear Partawmina and WOMANKIND's South Asia Programme Manager Kathryn Lockett described the extraordinary work our partners do to challenge inequality there.
'When women are depicted in wars, it's usually as victims ... but they are the real heroes.' Christina, just back from a month in Afghanistan, gave a moving account of what she'd witnessed and she told compelling stories of individuals she spoke to, including the child given away in marriage to solve a family feud.
What was being presented by the press as a bright spot - the TV sensation that was Afghan Pop Idol - had been extinguished: one of the runners up is now in hiding.
Christina also gave her perspective on the current security situation, the threat of the Taliban, and how 'ordinary' people are bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
With 60% of marriages forced and with one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world, the situation for women in Afghanistan is desperate. Partawmina appealed to the London audience to continue to think about her countrywomen and support WOMANKIND.
She emphasised the importance of advocacy, mobilisation, and girls' education and that, despite the worsening security situation (AWRC can no longer display its logo publicly), 'with your support, things are possible; we are still accepted by local people - and through WOMANKIND we can raise our voices.'
WOMANKIND in Afghanistan
To see our groundbreaking report on the reality of life for women living in Afghanistan, seven years after the Taliban, go to www.womankind.org.uk/takingstockdownloads.html
Read the Independent’s recent interview with Partawmina Hashemee
For more on Christina Lamb’s award-winning journalism and books go to www.christinalamb.net
6 October, 2008
Fashion bonanza
WOMANKIND is delighted at the success of the Daphne Guinness couture sale on 29 April.
More than 200 lots from the late-1980s to the present day by designers including Saint Laurent, Chanel and Valentino - were snapped up.
Gasps were audible as a pair of Alexander McQueen boots sold for 3,600, and a two-way bidding war for a black-silk wrap over evening coat by Dolce and Gabbana pushed the final price up to 5,000.
Nearly everything went for far more than the highest estimates at an exciting event - featured throughout the style pages - where bids in the room were often beaten by E-bay customers or clients on the phone.
30 April 2008
Eight out of 10 women are affected by domestic violence; over 60% of marriages are forced; and half of all girls are married before the age of 16. These are just some of the startling statistics contained in WOMANKIND?s groundbreaking new report Taking Stock: Afghanistan Women and Girls Seven Years On.
Seven years after the US and the UK 'freed' Afghan women from the oppressive Taliban regime, our report proves that life is just as bad for most, and worse in some cases. Maternal mortality rates one in six women dies in childbirth are the highest in the world alongside Sierra Leone. Afghanistan is the only country in the world with a higher suicide rate among women than men.
As WOMANKIND Worldwide's Director, Sue Turrell, states, 'Women in Afghanistan are working to tackle these issues by supporting individuals affected by violence and promoting legal reform but they urgently need more support'.
WOMANKIND is calling on the Government of Afghanistan to uphold its international commitments to women: it must consult them fully, implement the marriage contract, make the police and judiciary aware of violence against women, provide more family courts and police family-response units and pass the new violence-against-women law.
At a packed report launch at the House of Commons, MPs heard from our Afghan partner, Partawmina Hashemee, who said 'For me the issue that breaks my heart is the forced marriages because of poverty - even girls as young as eight. They don't get to go to school or to go out. They are told "you are not allowed to visit your family, we paid, now you have to work."
WOMANKIND is calling for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which says women in conflict zones should be offered protection and recognition of their role in the peace process as well as their human rights. Across Afghanistan the women's organisations we support are turning their attention from providing basic needs to teaching women their rights and urging them to vote.
25 February 2008
Making a noise for women everywhere
Our patron Sandi Toksvig's passionate speech in support of WOMANKIND and our partners capped a wonderful gala evening of prose, poetry, music and laughter at London's South Bank.
Literary stars Jackie Kay, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson appeared together for the first time and performed their moving collaborative story, which evolved from the words of a WOMANKIND beneficiary in South Africa: 'You don't stand with your mouth shut when you see women abused. We know now to grab pots and pans and spoons and make a noise.'
It was also a laughter-filled, sold-out celebration for International Women?s Day on 8 March marked by WOMANKIND's partners and women across the world.
Many members of the audience told us how much they'd enjoyed 'Speaking Out' typical of the comments was this, e-mailed the day after:
'I went with my daughter and it was a marvellous evening reminding all of the trials and tribulations of women globally and also the humour, resilience and strength of women'.
March 08
