“The international day for the elimination of violence against women” was commemorated at Gawharshad University on 25th November 2020. The date is based on the 1999 resolution by the United Nations and is to commemorate the three Mirabal sisters who were assassinated for their political and women right activities.
This ceremony that coincided with a one-day conference to mark the end of “One Billion Rising Gender & Peace two-weeks course” started with an introduction of the course and the “One Billion Rising Movement” followed by speech by Dr. Sima Samar in which she spoke about the importance of gender and peace course, gender discrimination in Afghanistan and encouraged the students to teach others what they had learned. She stated, “Equality and equity do not exist, they must be created. Feminism is a way of thinking; a school of thought, that helps us strive for creating equality in the world.”
Dr. Samar continued her speech by pointing at the positive effects of education in Afghanistan and expressed satisfaction with the more prominent presence of women in scientific and educational institutions.
The ceremony continued with recitation of poems regarding women rights, gender equality and violence against women by the students that were very well received by the audience. The anthem of “One Billion Rising” was then played and participants were given their certificates for the “Two-week Course on Gender and Peace”.
It is worth mentioning that the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” has been commemorated every year by Gawharshad University with various programs. This year, the program was launched under the management of Gender and Women's Empowerment Center at Gawharshad University.
