Source: Amnesty International
In Afghanistan, being a doctor, teacher, working in the police force or politics puts you at huge risk – especially if you’re a woman.
Our campaign calling on the UK government to safeguard the rights of the brave women in Afghanistan who go to work every day despite facing serious threats to their lives continues.
Over the past six months Amnesty activists have been showing their support for these women by submitting pictures of themselves with our campaign placards, to show solidarity with the women workers of Afghanistan, and also to send a message to our government that we must do more to protect these women.
Submit your own photo on Flickr, Facebook and Twitter
Women are a force for change in Afghanistan
The UK government has encouraged women to take up public roles in Afghanistan. There have been significant improvements to the lives of girls and women all over Afghanistan, thanks to women working in education, healthcare and political participation:
Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate has fallen from 49.4% to 17.9% since the fall of the Taliban because of the hard work of midwives and women doctors
There are now more than 8.3 million students in Afghan schools, nearly 40 per cent of them girls, thanks to a surge in dedicated women teachers.
While these gains have improved life for all women and girls in Afghanistan, the women leading the way carry out this work at great personal risk. And they don’t have the support and protection they need to carry on their work without fear of attack.
With the withdrawal of international troops due at the end of the year there is only a short amount of time left for the UK government to exercise their influence, which is why our campaign is more important now than ever. Will you show your support and send a message to the UK government? Find out how to upload your photo
