This happened a while ago but when I get discouraged, I remember that sometimes just writing a statement or saying something to the media can make a difference. I helped get this statement issued by the Department of State. I didn't write it or release it but I played a part. And after this statement came out, the Afghan Government (specifically President Karzai) made an announcement himself that the Acting Minister for Women's Affairs, a woman who said that shelters in Afghanistan that provide safe havens for women, could not unilaterally announce a new policy related to how private shelters would be regulated. This is critical in a country where women are treated so terribly and few women are able to find the courage to escape or are lucky enough to be living near one of the very few existing shelters. So this reminds me that sometimes the words we write or say can make a difference.
Proposed Changes to Regulation of Women's Shelters
We are still watching this closely, but women still have a place to go to escape bad situations. And that is good.
