Afghan Women Speak: Stories from Inside Afghanistan - V-Day

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Afghan Women Speak: Stories from Inside Afghanistan

V-Day’s newest blog series: Afghan Women Speak, Stories from Inside Afghanistan amplifies the stories and voices of Afghan women who can never be silenced as they share the reality of their lives on the ground. It is part of our ongoing RISING for and with the women of Afghanistan as we seek out ways we can directly help, and, as always, place emphasis on the fact that local women best know what their communities need.

Every day, the rights of millions of women in Afghanistan continue to be violated, stripped and threatened. Each woman’s story takes us inside the devastating reality where Afghan women have lost access to education, employment, and multiple other freedoms such as singing or reading aloud in public, looking at men who are not relatives, traveling without a male chaperone and utilizing public spaces like parks and gyms. They are compelled to cover their entire bodies and faces.

We believe the women of Afghanistan have the right to education, to travel, to freedom of movement, to jobs, to security, just having freedom to be able to breathe and be.

More stories are coming in from Afghanistan. We cannot underestimate the power of our solidarity at this moment. Please help raise awareness, share them widely with your friends and social networks.

We RISE with you, our Afghan sisters.

SUPPORT Afghan women and their families, DONATE to the Simeen Mobile Health Team today.

“Afghan Women Speak” Series is a Webby Awards Nominee! VOTE for it NOW!

Apr 7, 2025 1 Min read

“Afghan Women Speak” Series is a Webby Awards Nominee! VOTE for it NOW Our V-Day series Afghan Women Speak: Stories From Inside Afghanistan has been chosen as a Nominee for the 29th Annual Webby Awards in the General Social – Public Service & Activism category. Webby Awards are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The 29th Annual Webby Awards was the most competitive season yet with more than 13,000 entries submitted. In November, the series won two Anthem awards in the Education, Arts & Culture category. Afghan Women Speak amplifies

How Far Can Cruelty Go?

Dec 10, 2024 1 Min read

My grandmother often told stories about the laws of the jungle—where animals fought for survival, and the strong preyed upon the weak. While such struggles could be understood as a necessity of life, the cruelty of today’s world is far more terrifying. Humans, in their relentless pursuit of power, trample over one another with no regard for compassion, sacrificing children and destroying futures. Entire generations are deprived of the chance to live freely, receive an education, pursue their dreams, or become the people they were meant to be. Men and women alike are left

The Girl Selling Plastic Bags

Sep 1, 2024 3 Min read

View this post on Instagram A post shared by V-Day (@vdayorg) The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening. The rights of millions of women in Afghanistan continue to be violated, stripped and threatened under the guise of “combatting vice and promoting virtue” as the Taliban continues to erase Afghan women from all facets of life as outlined in a 114 page document of new orders and strict measures governing everyday life for Afghan citizens. As women and girls face the brunt of these crises, Al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups have

Sania Speaks: A Young Woman on the Ground in Afghanistan Tells the Truth of Life Under Taliban Rule

Jul 1, 2024 4 Min read

Soon after the Taliban took power in 2021, they banned high school for girls. We already knew then, that sooner or later they will close universities as well, because naturally there will be no high school graduates to join the universities. And this is exactly what happened. The Taliban officially banned girls and women from attending universities and from working in national and international NGOs. In a matter of seconds, we lost everything we had worked for our entire lives.

Compassion is diminishing in the world

Mar 7, 2024 2 Min read

Nadia (not her real name), a young unmarried woman, resides alone in Kabul with her elderly mother. They lack the support of any siblings, and the absence of her father and brother during these challenging times under the rule of the misogynistic Taliban is deeply felt. The Taliban’s oppressive policies have stripped women of their rights to work and live in peace. Nadia is facing a pressing concern as her mother’s health has deteriorated, necessitating an urgent operation. Unfortunately, Afghanistan faces a shortage of skilled doctors, and the quality of healthcare is often subpar.

Our Sisters in Afghanistan RISE for Freedom

Feb 19, 2024 2 Min read

Our RAWA sisters in Afghanistan are Rising for Freedom amidst devastating conditions. We stand in awe of their voice, their bravery and their solidarity with activists rising across the globe. Here is their statement that they have asked us to share with you: The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) participated in this year’s One Billion Rising for freedom. Throughout the week-long event, small gatherings, slogan writing, and other activities were held in our home-based classes, courses, centers, and homes in cities like Kabul, Mazar, and Herat. During these events, discussions centered

Can you imagine how difficult it is to be unable to even apply simple makeup in this world?

Jan 29, 2024 3 Min read

It’s a struggle that’s hard to put into words, and it feels like no one truly comprehends or shares in our pain. Sitara (not her real name) is in her 30s with two children. She owned and managed a beauty salon in Herat, Afghanistan and her personal journey highlights the enduring hardships faced by the people of Afghanistan over the past four decades of war and instability. I couldn’t attend school, never experiencing a typical childhood due to the constant presence of war. Eventually, my family and I were forced to flee to Pakistan

I am weary of life and of being a woman

Jan 22, 2024 1 Min read

Samina, (not her real name) ran a gym in Herat, Afghanistan and has two teenage daughters. Below is her story: Around 14 years ago, a friend and I decided to invest in a gym for women and girls. The concept of a gym, especially for women, was relatively new in Afghanistan, but we believed it was a great idea. We saw it as a way to empower women to prioritize their health, fitness, and embrace self-love. Unfortunately, our culture has never really encouraged women to focus on themselves; they are often expected to solely

The Taliban prevented me from pursuing my studies in Dubai

Jan 17, 2024 1 Min read

Samia, (not her real name) in her 20s, with tearful eyes, reflects on how her life drastically changed two years ago. She comes from a family where her mother used to work for an NGO, and her father was employed at a bank. At that time, she was pursuing a career in journalism while her sister was in her third year of medical school, and her younger brother attended school. Two years ago, their lives took a distressing turn when women were prohibited from working, leading to their mother losing her job. Samia and

We vehemently reject being governed by fundamentalists whose hands are stained with blood

Aug 15, 2023 3 Min read

By Fatima (an Afghan girl in Kabul) Part of our Blog Series AFGHAN WOMEN SPEAK: STORIES FROM INSIDE AFGHANISTAN Two years have elapsed since the Taliban regained power through a regrettable peace agreement brokered between the US special representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the Taliban. This agreement handed over the fate and destiny of our people to an ignorant and misogynistic force. It obliterated the progress and achievements our nation had painstakingly built over the past two decades. With a single stroke of a pen, we were catapulted centuries backward. Ever since, a nation haunted by

“We will die of hunger if he does not work”

May 2, 2023 4 Min read

I am an Afghan woman and my name is Dina (not real name). I would like to share with you a small part of Afghan families’ sorrow under the Taliban. I was walking on the street when I noticed a little boy around 10 years old cleaning cars. He was very dirty, tired, sad and hopeless. I went up close and started a conversation. I asked, “What are you doing on the streets during school hours? You should be in school, at least it is open for boys. And why do you look so tired?”

To learn more about our past and ongoing work with women in Afghanistan, visit our archive of stories, campaigns and actions: