Afghan women slowly gain rights

Having a say

Women received the right to participate in the Loya Jirga in the year 2002. Despite death threats from the Taliban, many women exercised their newly-won right to vote and also to enter politics. After voting, each person had to dip their finger in ink to let poll workers know they already cast their vote.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Women in politics

Habiba Sorabi is a pioneer. She is the first woman to have been elected governor in Afghanistan. She is a role model for women who began participating in the country's politics in 2002. Her life and work is also an inspiration for many young women seeking an education – something which was banned until 2001.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

A man's domain

Khatol Mohammadzai is Afghanistan's first female paratrooper. Today, her colleagues consider her an equal. "It was a difficult battle but I have won," she says.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Doctors needed

Afghanistan needs more doctors, nurses and hospitals. Only a few women manage to become physicians. In some areas there is only one female doctor per 100,000 patients.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Family planning is taboo

Family planning is a little known concept in Afghanistan and talking about sexuality is taboo. But government and social organizations are trying to create awareness about the options available, especially among women.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

In the media

These days many women in Afghanistan work in the media sector. While it would have been unthinkable for women to appear in public as journalists and anchors a decade ago, it has now become a frequent occurrence.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Breadwinners

Every third Afghani woman now works outside the home, and they often carry the sole responsibility for feeding their families. This woman sews army uniforms, which is a relatively well-paid job.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Affirmative action

A woman checking the election results in Kabul. 25 percent of government jobs are allocated to women. Many Afghan women see this as a great achievement.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

A challenging profession

Female public prosecutors struggle to be taken seriously by Afghani men. But Maria Bashi, the first woman to take up the job in the west of the country, has so far managed to get every man to talk. Bashir is accompanied by bodyguards, as not only the Taliban consider her an enemy.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

Rampant abuse

Violence against women is on the increase in Afghanistan. A recent United Nations report has found that around one third of women in Afghanistan are subjected to physical or emotional abuse. The new laws designed to curb these problems have yet to show any improvement.

Afghan women slowly gain rights

An uncertain future

The people of Afghanistan do not know what their future will bring. Many women and girls wonder what will become of them if the Taliban regain power. Currently, some two million girls are attending school.

Author: Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi / sb | Editor: Gregg Benzow

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

Dangerous work

Muhaemin, 67, worked as a ragpicker at Bantar Gebang for 35 years. He retired two years ago. His children got him to quit, convincing him that working at the dump was too dangerous. Now he lives off of what little savings he has. As a resident of Bantar Gebang he is not entitled to receive financial help from the state.

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

All in the family

Muhaemin lives in a small makeshift hut with his family. His children were taken out of school to work to help the family out financially. Like their parents, the children dig through the pungent garbage from morning until night in search of things that can be used or sold.

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

From morning until night

Dayini, who is 56 years old, is originally from a neighboring province. She sits all day in her makeshift tent and sorts plastic bags. She and her husband sell five baskets of plastic garbage each day and earn around 30,000 rupiah (around two euros).

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

Health risks

The working conditions at the dump are catastrophic. Unprotected, the workers there are exposed to dangerous objects and substances mixed in with the trash. Many of the ragmen get respiratory diseases, skin rashes and diarrhea. But Davini does not fear getting sick. She is proud that she has never been sick.

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

Money trouble

Dayini's husband Rasja, who is 67 years old, makes extra money sewing plastic bags for other ragpickers. Not long ago, he used most of his savings to pay off his debts. Debts accumulate quickly as borrowing is often the only way to get by.

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

Bitter poverty

Rasja and Dayini live in a wooden hut just a few hundred meters away from the dump. There is no sanitation, no running water. Most of the items found in their kitchen are recycled garbage. A large part of their meals consist of leftovers they find in the rubbish.

Last stop: Bantar Gebang dump

Hoping for a better life

Rasja and Dayini hope for a better life when they retire. They wish to return to their village if they manage to save enough money. But they still have quite a few working years ahead.

Author: Ritzki Nugraha/sb | Editor: Shamil Shams