Afghan Star Leads Celebration of Women’s Day at UN Compound in Kabul
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Kabul Afghanistan — On March 12, the United Nations organized a series of exciting events that brought together hundreds of staff working at its premises in Kabul, in a celebration to mark International Women’s Day.
The UN Gender Working Group and Communications group together took the lead on the initiative, Deputy Representative of the Secretary General to Afghanistan, launched the celebration with a speech highlighting the UN’s commitment to gender equality and empowering women in urban and rural Afghanistan. She then officially inaugurated a dedicated women’s space at the UN compound that will offer a safe and relaxed environment for women to congregate.
Addressing a large gathering of UN staff, Ms. Kardel highlighted the contribution women make in Afghan society, including the many hours of unpaid work they do. She also called on all staff to stand up for each other in support of women in the workplace.
“We have to ensure that there is an end to harassment and belittling of women.”
The speech was followed later in the afternoon by a performance of wushu, a modern form of Chinese martial arts, by a team of young Afghan women. The climax of the event was when Aryana Sayeed, a famous Afghan singer, appeared on stage to sing some of her most famous hits.
The celebration ended with a closing address by Toby Lanzer, the new UN Resident Coordinator in Afghanistan and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General. His message was simple: “we must practice the empowerment of women and girls every single day.”
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