Ways to help the women in Afghanistan over here in the United States - Newsletter piece
On August 16, the Taliban seized the Afghan capital of Kabul following the departure of US forces, a military presence that had spanned two decades.
Previous rulings by the Taliban have been atrocious for women. Before losing their rule in 2001, the Taliban stripped women of their right to work, go to school, and leave the house unaccompanied by a male relative, while forcing them to cover their faces and bodies.
Apparently, they have claimed that their current rule will consider the rights of women, but already there have been reports of women being forced to stop working and other restrictions being placed on them. 250,000 Afghans have been forced out of their homes since May, when US troops began their exit—80 percent of them women and children, according to a United Nations report. Many now live in extreme insecurity and uncertainty. While proximity-wise many of us may feel far removed, there are things you can do to support them.
Educate yourself and those around you
While donating to causes directly is the most obvious way to help, Shireen Ahmed, a wonderful journalist who focuses on Muslim women in sports, has said that one of the most important things you can do first, is to understand.
“If one wants to ‘help’ women in Afghanistan, acknowledging them would be an important first step,” she told InStyle.
“Sharing opinions without knowledge is harmful to Afghan women because incorrect and inaccurate information being disseminated is not going to help them.”
Maybe you don’t know what the motives of the Taliban are, and are unsure what their rule means for women in Afghanistan. With digital information everywhere we look right now, it’s difficult to even know where to begin.
A good place to start might be to research and consider how things played out last time. Look at a mixture of reputable reports; cross-reference them, check their sources and exercise your own judgment, remembering to value those with direct, lived experience of the culture and country most.
This CNN article explains who the Taliban is and how they took over, where this BBC article is good for extra background. Do your own research and discuss what you learn with colleagues, friends and family open to the discussion. You can always seek nuanced conversations through social media and in Facebook groups too.
Amplifying the right voices
Bushra Ebadi, a researcher and social innovator who currently works for Amnesty International, suggested numerous ways for ordinary people to help those in Afghanistan through this Twitter thread.
She focuses on the importance of Afghan voices, telling readers to “follow and amplify the voices, work and initiatives of Afghan activists, leaders, journalists, artists and researchers.”
Some female journalists and advocates worth following and sharing the content of are: Sakini Amiri, Rana Abdelhamid, Sana Safi and Munazza Ebtikar
Another voice worth amplifying and sharing is the remarkable Malala Yousafzai, who has been discussing the crisis as it unfolds on Twitter.
Give Thoughtfully
Of course, the most direct and immediate act of support many of us can offer right now is to donate to a worthy campaign, but it can feel hard to know where to send your money and spend your time. Here are some reputable organizations supporting Afghan women:
Women For Afghan Women is the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan. They provide services, education and vocational training for Afghan women and girls across the US and Afghanistan, while protecting and promoting their rights.
Another worthy cause to give to is this GoFundMe, for Women Globally Working to Protect Afghan Women by the Women’s Regional Network. So far it has raised an impressive $353,564, but still shy of their $500,000 goal. The organizer Patricia Cooper notes that they send all funds directly to their partners on the ground, focusing on evacuations, moving people to safety and other immediate measures that can be taken for protecting women.
It is also very important to support female journalists in Afghanistan right now, whose careers are being threatened by Taliban rule. One female journalist told the Guardian, “Our lives have changed and we have been confined to our homes, and death threatens us at every moment.”
You can donate to Rukshana Media, which centers on amplifying the voices of women. Their site offers a breakdown of their budgets, giving transparency on salaries and internet fees and providing insight into where your support goes.
Financials aside, almost everyone can afford to sign this petition to President Biden and Congress, asking to ensure Afghan women’s rights alongside peace with the Taliban.
Another hugely valuable yet “free” way to give, is to use your business and skills to offer time and/or consultations to organizations and individuals doing work on the ground, who may benefit from your strengths; be they in coaching, marketing, writing, designing or otherwise.
Final note
Right now, many of us have the privilege to feel far from the crisis. Though it can feel that donating money won’t make the biggest change, a global world is a local world.
Keep an eye out for local Afghan-supporting organizations in your community such as mosques, then signpost, signal and speak out! Use this opportunity to stand up for your sisters around the world, and be part of empowering the lives of all women.
Sent in a Newsletter, September 2021, to Empowering a Billion Women Subscribers
