Farida’s Story
“When I was just 8 years old my parents forcibly got me engaged to a 21 year-old man. They made a contract for us to marry when I turn 18.
“When I was 11 the man’s family asked my parents to get us married but my family said I was too young. After a few months he married another girl. But in my society only the man can break the engagement contract. Otherwise I belong to him and he can do what he likes with me as I am still considered his wife.
“A year later he started threatening me on the way to school and said if I go to school he will kill me and cut me into pieces. In the beginning I didn’t tell anyone but he started to beat me. I told my parents who spoke to his family but nothing changed so I left school when I was just 12. I thought if he kills me, my parents will need to take revenge and then both families will suffer because of me.
“For fear of this man, I stayed at home for three years doing nothing and wondering how I could return to school.
“Then one day, when I was 15, I was at the market with my mother and I saw an advertisement for a women’s support centre that was running courses. I tried to convince my parents to let me attend but they worried that the man would threaten me again. I didn’t give up and finally convinced them to enrol me on the human rights course.
“I learned a lot about my rights and forced marriage on the course and I saw women coming to the centre for legal support. After a few weeks I decided to tell the lawyer about my problem and my mother came with me.
“The lawyer worked on my case and visited the man’s family. At first he didn’t want to break the engagement contract but the lawyer told him the court would favour me because I was underage.
“The day when the court announced that now I am free I was so happy and my family became free as well.
“My lawyer and the centre helped me return to school and I have been advising other girls I meet to defend their rights like I have done.”
Farida is just one of the women and girls that Womankind’s partner Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan (HAWCA) see every day. Women whose lives have been destroyed or are on hold due to forced marriages, violence and a lack of knowledge about their rights.
HAWCA have set up legal advice centres where women can:
- Attend literacy or human rights classes
- Speak to a lawyer to resolve their situation
- Be referred to a safe house if they need to escape violence
- Find a place at a school or a job opportunity
HAWCA also make sure that key people in the community stand up for women’s rights by:
- Speaking to community leaders about reducing violence against women
- Training teachers to spot and help girls who are experiencing violence
- Training the next generation of lawyers and judges to uphold women’s rights
- Using research and evidence to help change legislation of women’s rights
How you can give Afghan women a stake in their future
£25 can pay for a psychologist to work with teachers to raise awareness about violence again women and girls in schools and support 10 girls who are at risk of violence.
£50 can pay for legal advice and support for a woman or girl who has experienced violence.
£250 can pay for a project worker to speak to 50 women at a village gathering about violence against women so they know about their rights to protect and defend themselves.
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