Activists join ‘One Billion Rising’ drive

KABUL’s rights activists staged a rally in Kabul on Thursday in connection with the “One Billion Rising,” a global campaign to end violence against women and promote gender equality.

Started in 2012 as part of the V-Day Movement, the “billion” refers to the UN statistic that one in three women would be raped or beaten in their lifetime, or about one billion.

The rally in Kabul comes a day before the world is to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

A large number of women, who took part in the peaceful demonstration, said violence against women had reached its worst level and has dramatically increased in the country in recent past.

They called for an end to violence against the gender and urged the government, civil society organisations and others to come forward and play their role in eliminating women’s rights abuses.

The demonstration that started from Zambaq Square culminated in front of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against the culprits behind women rights violations, abuses and immunity from execution.

The rally comes amid widespread international criticism of a proposed law that bans all family members of accused criminals from being questioned by police or testifying against them in court.

Doctors and psychiatrists would also be barred from providing evidence under the bill that has been approved by both houses of parliament and awaits the signature of President Hamid Karzai.

nh/ma

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