International women's day celebrated openly in Kabul
7 March 2002

The first post-Taliban celebration of International Women's Day (March 8) is being used by the Afghan Red Crescent Society to highlight the role women played, often clandestinely, in keeping the humanitarian traditions of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement alive under Taliban rule.

"It is a great source of pleasure for the Afghan people that women once again can play a public role and benefit from all rights and privileges of citizenship. During the Taliban years this day was not actively celebrated. Now we are happy to celebrate International Women's Day in our country. We want to show the world that women are playing a role in the community," said Dr Yasamin Yuosufzai, vice-president in charge of health affairs at the Afghan Red Crescent.

Despite the restrictions imposed on women working under Taliban rule, the Afghan Red Crescent managed to ensure the training of 980 female volunteers in community-based first aid by the end of last year. The training of these women was conducted in their homes by male relatives who were qualified first aiders. The skill levels of these women are now being assessed prior to awarding them first aid certificates.

In December 1999, a Red Crescent official conducted secret training of 25 women in the Kabul region for the first time under the Taliban, and these women went on to work in their local communities and to train other women. All 25 women were recently awarded their community-based first aid certificates.

"We have not been able to say much about it until now but there is no doubt that the 48 Afghan Red Crescent clinics which provide two million services per year would not have been able to function without the involvement of female staff and volunteers. 77% of these services were for women and children."

"In a country with no functioning state health service and one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, we cannot underestimate the importance of the role of women in the health sector, particularly traditional birth attendants trained by the Red Crescent and others," said Jean Gilardi, health co-ordinator and acting Head of Delegation, for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in Kabul.

*Additional background and pictures on this story can be got from our website at
www.ifrc.org/docs/news/02/020802/

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The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.