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A Voice For the Voiceless

The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.

The Impact of Service "Speaking with locals and living in a country is the best way to learn about the real lives of citizens, not just the stories in the mainstream media. I will be more critical of what I read as a result of this experience. I also feel even more grateful for my education, and I feel a stronger responsibility to assist others who do not have resources or access to opportunities in their communities." Maria Skouras (New York University) volunteered in 2011 as a Peace Fellow for eHomemakers in Malaysia. For more 2011 feedback click here.

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Partners > Asia > Afghan Women'...

Afghan Women's Network

Afghan Women's Network
Afgahn Women's Network

Issue: Women's Rights
Region: Middle East
Location: Kabul, Afghanistan








Mission

The Afghan Women's Network (AWN) is a non-partisan network of women and women's NGOs working to empower Afghan women and ensure their equal participation in Afghan society. AWN seeks to enhance the effectiveness of its members by fostering partnership and collaboration, undertaking advocacy and lobbying, and building their individual capacities. Currently there are 70 NGO members and over 3,000 individual members in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.





Telling The Story
Videos:

Watch AP's playlist on AWN

Peace Fellow Blogs:

2010: Zarin Hamid (American University)

2007: Audrey Roberts (Columbia University) and Saba Haq (Tufts University)

2006: Erica Issac (New York University)

2005:Carrie Hasselback (New York University)

2004: Sarah Schores (Georgetown University)


AWN's Work

Campaigns:

• AWN has called for NATO to create a gender policy for their provincial reconstruction teams so that they will be more effective. Read the report produced by AWN and AP Peace Fellow Audrey Roberts titled 'Operationalizing Gender in Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan' that details this proposal and outlines AWN's recommendations.

• AWN has called on the Afghan government and the international community to take 13 steps to improve security and protect women. (Afghan Women Denounce ‘Un-Islamic’ Attacks Against Women and Launch 13-Point Plan to Improve Security in Afghanistan)

• AWN has criticized a proposal to re-establish the department of vice and virtue, and argued that existing ministries should deal with anti-social behavior. An AWN statement said the re-creation of the department would “hinder social development and the freedom of expression, impede the rights of mobility and privacy and, ultimately, stop the continued development of women.” (Women Advocates Oppose Re-Establishment of Afghan Vice and Virtue Department)

• The Afghan Women’s Independent Advocacy Commission (AWIAC) was formed on August 8, 2005 in Kabul to ensure equal representation of women engaged in the political process. AWN was key in facilitating the group‘s formation. (New Advocacy Group Empowers Women Election Candidates in Afghanistan)

• In a major push to improve the rights of Afghan women, AWN has called for sweeping changes in the Afghan Constitution that would permit Afghan women free health care in all maternal health facilities as well as equal rights in all aspects of divorce and the custody of children. (Afghan Women's Network Calls for Sweeping Constitutional Changes to Improve Women's Rights and Unveils New Website)

• AWN launched a major campaign to protest against the growing tide of violence in the country and to demand more resources for reconstruction as NATO arrived to take over international peacekeeping in Afghanistan. (Afghan Women Call for Security as Violence Surges)

• 30 students graduated in March 2004 from AWN’s journalist-in-training program. 143 women have graduated from the program since it was initiated in 2003 under the direction of AP consultant, Mary Moore. Most of the program’s women had no opportunity for higher education elsewhere. (The Afghan Women's Network Calls For Urgency in Registering Women Voters, Receives $25,000 For AWN Registration)

• In 2003, AWN secured the release of four Afghan women refugees who were jailed after being falsely accused of bigamy. AWN has also arranged for the release of 18 Afghan children who were jailed with their parents because they had nowhere else to live. (Afghan Women's Network Frees Jailed Women as Afghan Constitution Promises Respect for Women's Rights)


Donate to Afghan Women's Network
Support Women's Rights in Afghanistan:



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Contact Afghan Women's Network
Visit the Afghan Women's Network website

Mailing Address:
Kabul Office (Main Office)
Main Street, Tahmani Watt
(Between 8 &9)
Tel: 0093-70286598

Email Leeda Yaqoobi, Deputy Director: AWNKabul_q@yahoo.com

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