17 March 2010 - Nangarhar’s Governor has announced that every girls' school in his province, including those in remote districts, will soon have at least one computer class.

Nangarhar‘s Provincial Governor Gul Agha Sherzai told this at a gathering organized in Jalalabad to mark International Women’s Day last week.

He also said that his Government is fighting hard for women’s rights and equality.

While underlining “the critical role” of women in the overall development of Afghanistan, Governor Sherzai said women are the “trainers of the whole world.”

The event, organized at the Governor’s Palace, saw the participation of about 500 people, including civil society, women’s organizations, scholars, representatives of the international community and the Government, aid organizations, and the international military.

“We have been fighting hard to ensure equality for women,” Sherzai said, adding that his Government is trying to organize “business tours” for women.

According to him, the Sherzai Training Centre – established after his name – has provided training for 1,500 women in the last five years and most of them are now employed.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director of Women’s Affairs in Nangarhar, Sheela Baburi, read out a message from the Acting Minister of Women’s Affairs, Husain Bano Ghazanfar.

“Our sisters, despite all kinds of difficulties and hardships, are making every effort – not only in Kabul but in all provinces – to get their rights. We are very optimistic about our future,” read the message.

The Karzai Hall, which was the venue of the event, was decorated with messages like “husband is the mind and wife is the heart of a house”, “if you respect women, you will have strong nation and bright future” and “access to education is the basic right of both men and women.”

Munira Akhundzada, UNAMA’s Human Rights Officer, read out a message by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.

A similar event to mark International Women’s Day was also organized in Laghman and Kunar in the east of Afghanistan.

By Tilak Pokharel and Shafiqullah Waak, UNAMA