Kabul rally demands more rights for women

KABUL on Thursday took to the streets in Kabul on the eve of International Women’s Day, amid increasing incidents of violence against the gender nationwide.

The demonstrators demanded more rights for women in the society. Holding posters, they denounced domestic violence and called for a greater political, economic, and social role for women.

Helmand women’s affairs director Jamila Niazai said 51 cases of violence against the gender were registered in the southern province during the ongoing Afghan year.

She blamed the increasing violence against women on the lack of attention by tribal elders, officials and religious scholars.

Speaking at a gathering marking the day in Lashkargah, she said illiteracy remained a key factor contributing to the violence.

She said there had been a sharp increase in underage marriages and in most cases young girls were married to elderly men against payments.

The director said the judiciary had failed to stem the growing violence against women and dispose on time cases of the nature. She said women were discouraged to move courts against injustices.

Separately, in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, civil society activists marked the women’s day.

Rabia Muradi, the provincial women’s affairs director, said 300 cases of violence against women took place in the province over the past one year. They include beating, fleeing home, rapes, denying food and stopping them from visiting parents.

International Women’s Day is marked on March 8 every year. The United Nations has declared the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.”

ml/ma

Visits: 6