| On 11 November, 2024 many of our members joined us for a very special webinar. Liz, one of our co-chairs, was in conversation with Sara who was speaking to us from inside Afghanistan and who told us what everyday life has been like for women and girls since the Taliban took over the country. She spoke of the ever harsher restrictions, culminating, in Sara’s words: “when they banned women to speak in public spaces, and they banned women’s faces and voices. And now we’re at a point that we can’t hear each other’s voice. I mean we can’t hear another woman’s voice. Not only do they erase women… from public spaces… but they erase women from life.” The zoom chat was full of empathy for the women and girls of Afghanistan; anger that they are being treated so harshly; and admiration for Sarah’s eloquence, openness and bravery. We have had a number of emails since, echoing these sentiments. We have shared your comments with Sara who was touched by your kind words. One of the members who got in touch with Green Party Women is Viv Griffiths. We are delighted to share this article which she wrote for Sussex Bylines about Afghan women Many of you have been asking how you can support Sara and other women and girls in Afghanistan. This will be a new regular feature in our newsletters. We will start with some requests which come directly from Sara. If you are on Twitter/X then please follow @WRNAfghanistanWomen’s mental health has been adversely affected by the harsh restrictions. If you are a mental health professional with relevant experience such as trauma counselling and you would be interested in training a group of Afghan women (via zoom) to support other Afghan women then please email Green Party Women. Consider donating to the crowdfunder for “Voices of Resilience: An Audiobook Initiative for Afghan Women,” aimed at empowering these courageous girls to stand up for their rights by recording audiobooks. Below, the avatar that Sara uses to retain her anonymity |
