HERAT - Afghanistan’s only female chief prosecutor Maria Bashir urged thousands of girls and women attending the largest schools and university in Herat to not be afraid and play a positive role in their communities despite the social challenges Afghan women face.

“The future of Afghanistan is in your hand and you are the ones who would play an effective role,” Prosecutor Bashir told 2,500 students on Monday at Mehri High School.

“Transform yourselves into successful women who have the courage to confront and defend their rights. All this can happen after you complete your higher education,” she added.

Mehri High School was the first of three speaking engagements for Bashir as part of the “If I did it, you can do it too” campaign co-organized by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Women’s Affairs, the provincial Department of Education and UNAMA.

The speaker series is meant to showcase the achievements of Afghan women who have had successful careers in public service, and allow young women who attend high school or university, or recently graduated, an opportunity to ask such role models questions.

During the question and answer session, Nasira Sadat, an eleventh grade student, announced that she had earlier decided to end her schooling, but that the speech encouraged and motivated her to continue pursuing a higher degree.

“During Mrs. Bashir’s speech I realized that we have the right to continue our education. Without education we cannot be successful women or workers in our society,” the 20-year-old said, adding that she was thrilled to have seen her rolemodel upclose.

The Herat Education Department Director, Arewin Taheri, said he appreciated the charismatic and effective speech which would a “new window in the minds of the students.”

In Herat, Bashir also spoke at Gawhar Shad High School and Herat University.

The series is planned to expand into other regions of Afghanistan with different women speakers.

In Gardez, the series will spotlight two renowned women. Dr Nazdana Paktiawal is an Afghan surgeon and one of only several women doctors in the province. Since 2002 she has been serving as the Deputy Director of Public Health for Paktya Province.

Young women will also have an opportunity to hear from Halima Khazan, the first woman to graduate from high school in Paktya province. Ms Khazan has been the director of Women’s Affairs for the province since 2002, and uses her position to promote girls’ education.

By UNAMA Herat