What is the situation like for RAWA members in Afghanistan?
RAWA is based in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. We also have members who have never left Afghanistan. Of course, it is not safe for those who are based there. We were first an underground organization (since 1997) but we also have a hospital and schools and literacy classes, and income generating activities, as a way to reach out particularly to the women. As a women’s organization what’s important is to raise consciousness of their potentials, that they are not subhuman. Women have told us that since the fundamentalists (both the Northern Alliance or the Taliban following Soviet occupation) took power they eventually felt they were nothing. It’s really a great task to change this attitude. People may not notice that this is revolutionary. Q: And why is that revolutionary? A: Women were unaware of their abilities. Once they realized that they said they feel reborn. Some men are also supportive. That takes time, and RAWA has succeeded in changing some men’s mentality too (towards women).
