Society of Afghan women "Rabe-i-Balkhi" 2001-2003

On 1 & 2 May 2002, the international conference "The Voice of the Afghan Women" was held in Soesterberg, The Netherlands. Organized by "Rabe-i-Balkhi", the society of Afghan refugee women in The Netherlands, this was the first time after 23 years of war and oppression that Afghan women had an international conference. Initially planned long before the events of September 11, 2001, the conference was postponed due to this tragedy. Inevitably, September 11, and the effects it had on Afghanistan, were reflected in the high number of participants and the emotional intensity of the meeting. More than 90 Afghan women, some still living in Afghanistan others residing as refugees in Iran, Pakistan, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands, participated in readings, discussions and workshops, about the position of women in Afghan society and the future of Afghanistan. First of all meant to let the world know that Afghan women do have opinions and wishes regarding the future of Afghanistan, the intention of the conference also was to co-ordinate the Afghan women movement and to work on a manifest about human rights for women, as a direction for the new Afghan government, international governmental and non-governmental organisations.
For "Rabe-i-Balkhi", a photo series was made about the two day conference.