How the US pull-out from Kabul hurt women most
NY Post
In 2002 I stood on a stage in the Zainab Cinema in Kabul to celebrate International Women’s Day as Afghanistan’s first minister of women’s affairs.
The Zainab Cinema was the only cinema in the country named after a woman and, like much of the nation, had suffered destruction during 23 years of war that began with the Soviet-backed government and the military invasion of the USSR in 1979 and resulted in Taliban control from 1996-2001.
But we restored the Zainab Cinema and made it a part of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, to celebrate International Women’s Day and the end of the Taliban regime that had systematically deprived women of all human rights.
Our 2002 event was filled with hope for the future and the pledges of the international community to stand by Afghan women and girls.
We achieved a lot.
More than 3 million girls returned to schooling.
