KABUL - The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign that runs from 25 November, International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, through 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

This year’s theme is “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World” highlighting the key roles women play in the family and as peacemakers and peacekeepers in war zones. In Afghanistan, support for women’s issues is one of the five priorities of the United Nations agencies and programmes.

Today’s story is authored by UNDP.

Suraiya was sold in Balkh province at the age of seven. Constantly beaten by her husband and his family, she was finally able to run away at 16 and returned to her father’s house. Suraiya was forced to go back to her husband’s home, where she was beaten and thrown on to the street. The Legal Help Centre registered her case, lodged a formal complaint with the police and monitored her case until her husband and father-in-law were imprisoned for 3 years.

In partnership with the Departments of Justice and of Women’s Affairs and its local partners, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last year set up eight Legal Help Centres in Balkh and Herat to provide legal protection and support to victims of domestic violence.

The Centres trained more than 100 paralegal volunteers - who in turn trained more than 7,000 villagers and community leaders - on basic legal issues, including the rights of women and gender-based violence.

Since the establishment of the Legal Help Centres, more than 100 cases of violence against women have been registered each month. Of these, 40 percent of those relating to early and forced marriages have been resolved.

Educated women and healthy families are the foundation of a peaceful and progressive Afghanistan.