Kabul, Afghanistan – IRI and its Afghan partner the Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan (WADAN) hosted more than 100 parliamentarians, government officials, scholars and activists to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2007. 

The event, unthinkable just five years ago, was an important occasion for all Afghans – men and women – to celebrate the achievements made by Afghan women and strengthen their commitment to advancing women’s rights.  The celebration highlighted IRI’s work with women and showed there are leaders, men and women, conservative and liberal, who are committed to securing the future of women in Afghanistan.

The event began with a recitation from the Koran, after which the official program began with speeches, discussions, prayers and musical performances.  A major theme highlighted by both male and female speakers was fact that women are the only segment of Afghan society that did not take part in its destruction during more than two decades of Soviet occupation, civil war and Taliban rule. 

Speakers noted the strides women have taken since the fall of the Taliban to fully take part in all aspects of society.  While much work remains, especially in the rural provinces, women have realized significant gains in the last several years.  The event’s participants also discussed the future of women in Afghanistan, noting that laws and regulations passed to safeguard women’s rights must be enforced and respected at the provincial and local levels in order to ensure women continue to make progress.

A major achievement that was highlighted was the passage of a quota system in the parliament.  The quote allowed women in this conservative Islamic nation to win 68 seats in the National Assembly in the 2005 parliamentary elections.

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