More Afghan women attending shuras shows progress

  • Published
  • By Army 1st Lt. Lory A. Stevens
  • Task Force Warrior Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  More than 100 local women attended the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team Woman's Shura in Anaba District, Aug. 4, and discussed the welfare of their villages and addressed ongoing issues.

Capt. Jillian Torango, Panjshir PRT, and Miriam Panjshiri, director of women's affairs, represented their organizations at the shura.

Shuras are important to the PRT as well as local government representatives because they ensure that local voices are heard by both groups, said Captain Torango, who explained the Panjshir PRT tries to conduct women's shuras once a month to ensure that the voices of Afghan women are heard and their concerns are addressed.

Essentially, shuras are used as a platform to allow Afghan women the freedom of speech.

"Every time I meet with the women of Panjshir, I leave with two very distinct feelings," said Captain Torango. "First, I appreciate the freedoms I have as an American. Second, it makes me feel very positive about the way women feel empowered to help with their families and communities."

The successful turnout of Afghan women, along with the eagerness to speak their minds about what is going on in their families and communities is a credit to the director of women's affairs and PRT.

Panjshir is a highly-conservative region where women typically interact within the same small groups. The interaction at the Panjshir PRT Woman's Shura testifies to the relationship between the women of Panjshir, director of women's affairs and the PRT.

Tech. Sgt. Dawn Tiemann, an Air Force medical technician, attended the shura with Captain Torango to answer medical questions and make the Afghan women feel more at ease. Feeling comfortable is essential to promote a free flow of ideas, said Captain Torango.

"These women all have great ideas about what can be done to make their villages better," she explained. "For instance, they talk about the need for power, drinking water and schools."

With many widows and large families in Panjshir, humanitarian assistance and vocational training is very important.

"The women talk about wanting to learn skills that will help generate money for their families and villages," said Captain Torango. "Women want to work and little by little, they're being able to."

The director of women's affairs  and PRT are supported by the Afghan government, said Captain Torango, who explained that the Ministry of Women's Affairs, located in Kabul, is the lead agency promoting advancement for women in Afghanistan.

The ministry's mission is to ensure women have legal, economic, social, political, and civil rights including the right to be free from all forms of violence and discrimination.

Women's shuras, such as those held monthly in Panjshir province, are a medium for continued progress, said Captain Torango.

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