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P R E S S R E L E A S E Kabul, 5 th November, 2013 Conference and Exhibition on How Afghan women can contribute in enhancing reconstruction of Afghanistan; Subjected to an enabling environment During a conference organized by HealthNetTPO and the Ministry of Women Affairs on November 5th, participants representing both State and Non-State actors applauded the inherent capacity of Afghan women to bring positive changes, despite the numerous challenges and discrimination they have been facing since years. Her Excellency Husn Banu Ghazanfar expressed her satisfaction about the years of collaboration between the MoWA and HealthNet TPO. She requested HealthNet TPO and all other organizations to continue their efforts and to extend both the duration and the coverage area of projects that aim to empower women. Mojgan Mostafavi, Deputy Minister of Women Affairs said in front of about 300 people, “It is important that we don’t focus only on women in Kabul and that’s why we are happy to have so many women from the provinces and rural areas here in this Conference. Strong coordination between Civil Society and governmental institutions at different levels of society is needed in order to succeed." The Attaché for the EU Delegation, Mr Luis Castellar Maymo explained the initiatives taken by EU in promoting women’s empowerment in Afghanistan. He elaborated that: "The EU attaches the greatest importance to the increased involvement of women in public and political life. Gender equality and women's participation at all levels is a key factor in tackling conflict and economic hardship. This is why, since 2005 the EU has been committed to mainstreaming gender in all its development programs. The European Union and its member states are in Afghanistan for the long haul. We are committed to supporting the Afghan Government and the Afghan people well into the decade of transformation.” In his opening remarks, the country director of HealthNetTPO, Dr. Abdul Majeed Siddiqi commented on what has been achieved in the field of women empowerment during the last ten years. He said: “Since 2001 several positive initiatives have been taken by the Afghan government and international development partners. The enactment of the law on the elimination of violence against women is a milestone in protecting women’s legal rights. Despite these positive developments much remains to be done. Women and girls in Afghanistan still face high levels of violence, unequal treatment and deprivation of rights. These cultural challenges restrict women’s mobility, their access to education and health, their self-development and the realization of their capacities and potentialities”. This project is funded by the European Union A project implemented By the HealthNet TPO The European Commission is the EU’s executive body. “The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders”.
