By Alisha Steele
WCCN Outreach Coordinator
Again this year WCCN and Women for Peace hosted a celebration of International Women’s Day in Madison, WI. This year the main speaker was Malalai Joya, a legislator from Afghanistan who spoke on “Afghan Women’s Resistance to War and Fundamentalism”. The event included performances by local artists Katrina Flores and Tracie Gilbert, as well as music and dancing by the Omulu Capoeira Group.
Malalai attracted a great deal of attention in 2003, both positive and negative, when she denounced the presence of violent warlords at the Loya Jirga assembly (grand council). Because of her continued denouncement of these warlords, many of whom are now members of parliament, she has been targeted with many death threats, but also widely admired for her bravery. In a show of wide support she was then elected by an overwhelming majority as parlaimentary representative, for her home province of Farah.
Malalai worked in the areas of women’s health and literacy in Afghanistan, even during the time under the Taliban, when some of these activities were illegal. She continues to show her devotion to the people of her country, and especially the women, through her work in the newly formed parliament.
Even though Malalai’s experience in Afghanistan may be extreme, women worldwide face many obstacles to justice, and WCCN is proud to support these struggles.
