Women rally for reopening of girls’ schools

MAIDAN SHAHR (PAN, calling for girls’ schools to be kept open in the central province of Maidan Wardak.

The rally in Maidan Shahr, the provincial capital, was attended by about 300 women from various districts. They were chanting the slogan “keep school doors open to slam the door on ignorance.”

Seeking an end to the decade-long war, they asked the nation to forge unity and strive for peace and stability of the country, the governor’s spokesman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Shahidullah Shahid said the women asked the militants to avoid closing girls’ schools and respect women’s rights. Arranged jointly by the Afghan Sisters Unit and the Women’s Affairs Department, the rally began after a meeting.

At the end, a resolution was read out jointly by the Afghan Sisters Unit head, Humera Haqmal, and Women’s Affairs Director Wahida Khkule.

The resolution called for the elimination of violence against women. It said women should be given inheritance rights. It also called for an end to the conflict and giving greater representation to women in the peace process.

Shabana, one of the participants, told Pajhwok Afghan News the rally was aimed at telling opponents of women’s education that girls would go to school under all circumstances and they would not bow to pressures.

She said the conflict could achieve nothing, but cause insecurity, deaths, hunger, illiteracy and destruction. She remarked Afghan children, like their counterparts in other countries, needed education for their prosperity.

ma/mud

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