Uganda

ActionAid marked the 100 anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8 by speaking out about putting an end to violence against women all over the world.

In Australia, we invited women’s rights activist Nasima Rahmani to speak about her experiences of fighting against women’s rights abuse in her country Afghanistan. She was a compelling speaker, inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds, speaking at a number of events including a UNIFEM lunch, a presentation at the University of Technology Sydney and an Ascham School assembly. She was also interviewed on ABC Radio National’s Late Night Live, Law Report and Radio Australia, and madison magazine, and met with a number of foundations, law firms and female Federal Court judges.

Nasima co-ordinates the Women’s Rights program with ActionAid Afghanistan, training up women to be paralegals and community advocates to help combat violence against women and offer strong support to victims in legal and psychosocial ways.

Her message was powerful and clear: in developing countries such as Afghanistan, women’s rights have a long, long way to go. Women are often beaten and raped, and education and health services are very limited. Under Afghan law, women are supposed to be equal to their male counterparts but in a country steeped in tradition, Nasima said, negative customs greatly contribute to violence against women. Read the rest of this entry »