Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

You’re invited to join CW4WAfghan’s Manitoba Chapter for a Breaking Bread Potluck Picnic in support of Afghan women and girls! Everyone is welcome to come out and join the community at this fun-filled summer picnic in Winnipeg. Bring a lawn chair and your favourite dish to share. Donations are welcome in support of Afghan women and girls’ fundamental right to education. Thank you for helping the chapter reach their goal of raising $1,000! For more details: https://lnkd.in/g8GfhmJC

According to UNICEF, 99% of children under the age of 5 in Afghanistan have less than 3 children’s books to read. At CW4WAfghan, we are working to change this.    Our Darakht-e Danesh Library (DDL) provides over 770 free, virtual storybooks in 9 languages to connect children across Afghanistan and the world with the learning and literacy they need to thrive.  Know any families who could benefit from this free resource? Please share! Farsi: https://lnkd.in/duvXBmKR Pashto: https://lnkd.in/dZDjp2bN English: https://lnkd.in/gJVbqK4K

UN Women just released the Afghanistan Gender Country Profile 2024 which shows disturbing statistics linked to the closure of girl’s schools. Nearly one-third of all girls in Afghanistan are now married before the age of 18, and it is estimated that the risk of maternal mortality has increased by at least 50%. We encourage you to read the executive summary: https://lnkd.in/gg49r6FQ

CW4WAfghan Senior Director Murwarid Ziayee's writes, "As an Afghan woman, I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to let my sisters’ suffering be in vain. We must amplify their voices, share their stories, and demand justice. The world cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against women in Afghanistan." Read the full Op-Ed in Medium, "Unveiling the Horror: Sexual Violence Against Afghan Women Under Taliban Oppression": https://lnkd.in/gxwvqW_A

As we celebrate 25 years of advancing women’s rights and empowerment, we are reminded that education — particularly the education of women and girls — is the key factor in creating profound and lasting benefits for present and future generations. We invite you to read our 2023 Annual Report to hear the stories of our beneficiaries and learn about the tenacious advancements we have made in education for Afghan women and girls — all of which was made possible by your support. Thank you for being with us on this journey of upholding the right to learn as we expand access to education, elevate our programs, and evolve to make the right to learn a reality under any circumstances. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gXXatjVR

Have you considered doing something impactful with your Aeroplan points? As an organization with international reach, your donated Aeroplan points allow our staff to safely travel abroad to oversee our educational programs and establish new programs to meet the growing demand from displaced Afghans. In Canada, donated Aeroplan points enable staff to attend conferences, speak at community events, and take advantage of other opportunities that strengthen our work. Click here to make your points matter: https://lnkd.in/gi3K9evC

"The Taliban convey their values in their actions. Similarly, the U.N. and each of its member states should carefully consider what values are being conveyed when the Taliban, who oversee a calculated and brutal system of sexual violence, are dignified with a seat at the table, while Afghan women are not." Read the op-ed written by CW4WAfghan Executive Director, Lauryn Oates: https://lnkd.in/gG7nQGQw Or read the article on our website here: https://lnkd.in/g-HM56hw

Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan recently presented his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council. In his report, he explicitly recommends that "States are encouraged to support the recognition and codification of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.” Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gjNCkS7y

Calling English language speakers! We are seeking Volunteer English Conversation Club Facilitators to play a critical role in assisting Afghan female students improve their English language skills. As a facilitator, you will plan weekly conversational settings, provide language feedback, and help create a supporting environment for students in grades 8 through 10 to practice conversational English, enhance their comprehension, and build confidence in English communication. For more details and to apply: https://lnkd.in/gpxa_8vP

We are deeply concerned about the absence of Afghan women in the third UN-led conference on Afghanistan taking place in Doha, Qatar on June 30, 2024. It is reported that the Taliban demanded that no Afghan women be allowed to participate in the meeting and that the agenda does not include women’s rights. The UN appears to have obliged these conditions, with the Taliban agreeing to participate as a result. CW4WAfghan supports the calls of other organizations and advocates to have Afghan women at the table. Their voices, experiences and concerns should be part of any high-level discussions on Afghanistan, and it should be acknowledged that there are no solutions to Afghanistan’s considerable challenges that do not include the full restoration of the rights of women and girls. Read our full Statement on the Exclusion of Afghan Women in the Third UN Conference in Doha: https://lnkd.in/g9DFF5d8