The Urban Group of Amnesty stands with Women of Afghanistan on International Women’s Day (IWD)

Amnesty International Australia’s (AIA) Urban Group and the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) are joining local community to celebrate IWD; discussing women’s rights and raising awareness of the urgent need to protect women’s rights in Afghanistan. The event will be held at Hobart’s Fullers Bookshop on Thursday 6h March 5.30pm.

Afghani-Australian medical professional and interpreter Mary Payenda, will speak at the event about her experiences, and the next phase of AIA’s Afghan Women’s rights campaign.
A supporter of IWDA will talk about women’s rights across the Asia-Pacific.

Amnesty’s Urban Group Co-convenor Yabbo Thompson said, “This event allows us to turn our thoughts and reflections to the brave women of Afghanistan, one of the worst places in the world to be a woman, and to personally hear what we can do next to show our support to those Afghan women who risk their lives every day to improve their conditions, and give the community an opportunity to learn how we can all help stand with them.”

Afghan women have made great strides over the last decade, but the Afghan presidential elections are just a few weeks away, and they risk losing these gains under the new power-sharing arrangements by their government.

Co-convenor Andrew Badcock said that over the last year of campaigning it was great to witness the universal support from community prepared to stand in solidarity with the plight of Afghan women.

“Regardless if they’re female or male, young or old, everyone recognises how fundamental the human rights of women are, and how in some countries these rights are not being met.”

Event Details:

What: International Women’s Day session
Where: Fullers Bookshop, 131 Collins Street, Hobart
When: Thursday 6th March 2014, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Yabbo Thompson