KANDAHAR - Women in Kandahar celebrated International Mothers’ Day yesterday. The celebration was not only to honor mothers’ sacrifices to their families, but also used as a reminder that Afghan women are still not free.

Held in the Provincial Council it was attended by Kandahar Governor, Government officials, UNAMA Human Rights Unit in Kandahar and members of Kandahar Provincial Council.

“Women are mothers of the country, we need to respect their rights” said Rukiya Achkzi, Head of Women Affairs Department in her speech. “Their rights are still weak as many don’t have education”.

In Southern region many women still face a lot of obstacles to advance their life through education and choosing a professional career. Security is one of the biggest concerns for them. Maryam Durani, a 28 years old member of Kandahar Provincial Council is one of those who experienced it.

“They rang and threatened to kill me as well as my family if I don’t resign from my job”, Durani said in an interview.
The threat however does not deter her to continue what she loves to do. As a Provincial Council member one of her duties is to “participate actively and eliminate customs and traditions contrary to the law and Islamic Shari’a such as forced marriages, exchange of females for settlement of disputes, and efforts to ensure human rights”.

The security issue in Kandahar has become an obstacle to do her work. She said that many projects have to be closed down, and move to other safer provinces. Nonetheless she keeps doing what she loves the most, helping women in the province.

“Women who suffer from violence often go to my office and I help them”, said Durani.
As many more women visit her office daily, she has set up a radio station, radio Merman, to broadcast her message to broader audience. She will continue help women, and in the future she will involve them more to actively participate in politics.

The violence against women is also part of traditional practices in Afghanistan. UNAMA Human Rights unit wrote a report about such harmful traditional practices. Read the report here (/sites/default/files/old_dnn/UNAMA/Publication/Harmful%20Traditional%20Practices_English.pdf)