On September 28, candidates for the Afghan parliament launched their campaigns ahead of the October 20 elections. Of the 2,565 people running, a historic 417 are women. According to data by The World Bank, the number of seats in parliament held by women rose from 4 percent in 1990 to 28 percent in 2017.
350 Afghan Women Certified by USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Women’s Leadership Development program, Promote, awarded over 350 Afghan women certificates of accomplishment last week.
Victory in the Fight to End Virginity Testing in Afghanistan
A major breakthrough was secured for Afghan women last week following a new policy that aims to prohibit virgin testing across health care facilities.
Afghan Women Break Glass Ceilings
Women in Afghanistan are being celebrated for unprecedented rises in female leadership and activism across social, political, and economic spheres.
Saudi Arabia Arrests Women’s Rights Activists
The government of Saudi Arabia has arrested numerous women’s rights activists less than a month before the country is due to formally legalize female drivers. The women, who worked as vocal campaigners’ in the #women2drive movement, have been charged with suspicious activity and crimes of treason, a common smear and intimidation tactic employed by Saudi authorities to denigrate political activists.
Afghan Girls Robotics Team Continues Success
After first gaining fame in the summer of 2017, the Afghan Girls Robotic Team continues to wow the world following an incredible international tour. The most recent success for the team of six young women was in Ontario, Canada, where they were honored with the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Award.
Journalists Killed While Covering Explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan
ISIS took credit for the attacks which killed 30 civilians including nine journalists.
Saudi Women Can Now Win Custody of Kids After Divorce
According to a statement from the Saudi Information Ministry, women in the country can now gain custody of their children after a divorce without having to file a lawsuit as long as there are no disputes between the parents.
Today is International Women’s Day
In recognition that we are all in this together, many feminist organizations in the United States and around the globe focus not just on the empowerment of women in their own communities, but around the world, including the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF).
State Department Report to Downplay Global Women’s Rights Violations
In the latest attack on women’s global health, officials at the United States State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor will curtail the section on women’s reproductive rights and family planning in the annual report on human rights.
Delegation of Afghan Women Discuss Country’s Progress
A delegation of eight high-ranking Afghan women officials visited Washington DC last week to discuss their country’s progress in women’s equality, fiscal reforms, peace efforts and foreign relations. The delegates included:
Afghan Women Coders Make Anti-Drug Trafficking Video Game
A group of Afghan women who broke gender barriers by becoming the first female coders in the country have designed a game called “Fight against Opium,” underscoring Afghanistan’s struggle to combat opium trafficking.
Afghan Girls Robotics Team Back in the US
On January 5, the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, who became famous after they were denied a visa to enter the U.S. for an international robotics competition in summer 2017, came back to the United States to attend, speak and exhibit their newest robot at the 4th annual Raw Science Film Festival.
Talks of Reparations for South Korean “Comfort Women” End
South Korea announced that it will not be pursuing renegotiations with the Japanese government over reparations for South Koreans victimized by the Imperial Japanese Army sex slave trade during World War II.
Iran Sees Protests Against Corruption and Struggling Economy
Anti-government protests that erupted in Iran at the end of December have lead to the arrests of an estimated 3,700 people and the deaths of at least 21.
2017 Survey of Afghan People Shows Signs of Progress
The survey reveals that although people in Afghanistan are more hesitant about their future and security than previous years, there are still some signs of hope and improvement in everyday life.
First Afghan Women’s Studies M.A. Students Graduate
Last Sunday, students at Kabul University became the first in Afghanistan to graduate from a Master’s Degree Women’s and Gender Studies program. This two-year graduate program, introduced in October 2015, is the first of its kind in all of Afghanistan.
Afghan First Lady Discusses Women in Peacemaking
First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani spoke at the U.S. Institute of Peace last Wednesday to discuss the role of women in the peacemaking process. Women in Afghanistan have largely been left out of these conversations in the past, however, the First Lady stated that Afghan women, “are no longer going to wait for peace […]
Deadly Bombing Kills More Than 300 in Somalia
On Saturday, in one of the deadliest bombings in history, nearly 300 civilians, reporters, and government officials were killed in a truck bombing in Mogadishu.
Israeli and Palestinian Women Come Together for Peace March
On September 8, nearly 30,000 Israeli and Palestinian women participated in a two-week Peace March through the desert. This Peace March was organized by Women Wage Peace, an organization devoted to promoting a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine.