Women Hold Protest for Right to Learn and Work

The Ministry of Economy said that efforts are ongoing to create work opportunities for women.

Following calls to reopen girls’ schools above sixth grade and employment for women, a group of women staged a protest in Kabul to express their concerns about the continued effective ban on female students over 6th grade and on female employment.

Protesters called on the Islamic Emirate to create work for women and to allow girls above grade six to learn.

These women added that depriving women of work and education has widened the scope of poverty in the country.

A mother complained about economic problems,  saying that previously she worked at the Ministry of Interior as a head of the gender department of the ministry, but now she is jobless and faced with economic challenges.

“We call on the United Nations and the international community to pay attention to us and save women from these violations of their rights,” said Marghalare, former employee of the Ministry of Interior.

Some women, due to the lack of work and the limitations on education,  held a protest and showed their educational documents as a sign of protest, and asked the government for jobs and education.

“The document that we have in our hands is useless because all of us are at home and do not have any jobs,” said Shokorya, a protester.

“If they don’t address our problems we will continue our struggle,” said Arezo, a protester.

The Ministry of Economy said that efforts are ongoing to create work opportunities for women.

“Specialists and elites play an important role in the development, advancement and progress of the country, and, in this regard, our policy is to support businesswomen and experts,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Economy.

“The government has the responsibility to address economic, political, and social problems of the people–men and women,” said Abdul Jamil Sharani, political analyst.

It has been 14 months since most women lost their jobs in governmental organizations and they are not allowed to go to work, and also girls above grade sixth have been banned from attending secondary school.

Women Hold Protest for Right to Learn and Work