International Women's Day 2007
Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls
The Resource Centre for Women in Politics
On the occasion of the 2007 International Women's Day, which occurs on March 8th every year, UNIFEM organized a conference at the resource centre focusing on the global theme “ending impunity for violence against women and girls”.
The conference was attended by female members of the Wolesi and Meshrano Jirgas, provincial council members of Kabul, representatives of NGOs, MOWA and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). UNIFEM provided funding support to MOWA to invite 500 government officials to the event, including the Deputy President, cabinet members, parliamentarians, school officials, members of relevant UN agencies, national and international organizations.
The participants identified five areas where women suffer high rates of violence and the AIHRC presented a report on self-immolation. Awareness materials were also distributed to the public at large, including NGOs, provincial Departments of Women's Affairs and other government agencies as part of the 16 Day Campaign for the Elimination of Gender Violence.
Celebration at Bagh-e-Sanana Women's Park, Kabul
Women participate in International Women's
Day celebrations. Photo: Pilar Gimeno
UNIFEM also participated in UN celebrations of the 2007 International Women’s Day at Bagh-e-Zanana Women’s Park in Kabul, where UN agencies set up stalls providing information on their activities. UNIFEM exhibited photo and video displays, and health, psycho-social and legal advisors were also made available to women at the event. The park was lively and full of people as large numbers of women and children took advantage of the occasion to soak up the atmosphere and access the available information.
UNIFEM