Afghan Women’s Network (AWN), Afghanistan
Afghan Women representatives gathering at ACBAR office in Peshawar Pakistan first discussed the thought of establishing a platform where Afghan Women could share their observations and concerns as well as find ways for solving them. From this the idea of establishing a Network where women’s issues could be discussed in details was born.
After the United Nations fourth World Conference on women in Beijing, which was attended by a group of Afghan women from various organizations and UN agencies, the idea of establishing a network to promote unity and cooperation among Afghan women, was formed. Inspired by women’s movement in different parts of the world, in 1995 the participants along with other Afghan women decided to establish the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN).
The Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) is a corner stone of Afghanistan’s fledging women’s movement, serving as a well-established network for the growing number of women’s organizations operating in the country. AWN has had a strong presence in Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad, while also working through local partners in several Afghan provinces. AWN fulfills the function of a network of organizations, as well as undertaking its own projects addressing issues such as gender-based violence, youth empowerment and girl’s education.
The operating environment for women’s organizations in Afghanistan is rapidly evolving, as reconstruction and development efforts continue with varying rates of success amidst unstable peace process and shifting religious, political and social contexts facing women and girls. AWN sits at the epicenter of this environment, representing the interests of over 65 member organizations.
