End of Mar 2019 Edition
au
COMMUNITY
AFGHAN WOMEN DELEGATION DELIVERS A
POWERFUL MESSAGE – PEACE AND SECURITY
Vish Viswanathan
S
ydWest Multicultural
Services in collaboration
with the ‘Afghan Women on
the Move’ hosted a delegation of
women leaders from Afghanistan
on Monday 11 March 2019 at
Blacktown. The evening provided
an opportunity to welcome the
delegation to Sydney and promote
global women leadership and
their progress.
The distinguished women
Delegates participating in the
2nd Australia-Afghanistan Annual
dialogue - a Department of Foreign
Affairs and The Embassy of Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan initiative
were:
Ms Sajia BEHGAM - Women and
Youth Affairs Advisor to the CEO,
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Ms Hadeia AMIRY - Special Advisor
to the National Security Advisor of
the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Muqaddesa Yourish –
Commissioner and Board member
of the independent Administrative
Reforms and Civil Service
Commission of Afghanistan.
Ms Onaba Payab – Director of
20
Advancement at the American
University of Afghanistan
Ms Farzana WAHIDY –
Photographer, Visual Artists
Ms Nahid HAMIDI - CEO, Shagirf
Ltd and Chair of the Business
chamber
Ms Freshta KARIM - Director,
Charmaghz
Ms Nargis AZARYUN - Civil Society
Activist
Ms Fatima Faizi – Media
Elfa Moraitakis, Chief Executive
officer of SydWest Multicultural
Services welcoming the Afghan
Ambassador to Australia His
excellency Wahid Waissi, the
Afghan Women delegation and
invited guests said
“SydWest is a leading organisation
in Sydney with a mission to
contribute to building the
social capacity of our diverse
communities. Concluding our
International Women’s Day
celebrations only last week the
arrival of such a delegation in
our city couldn’t be timelier.
Nine women holding key roles in
Government, in the community, the
private & business sectors, leaders
in advocacy, human rights, the arts
and academia, holding advisory
roles in the national security of the
country and in Women and Youth
affairs welcome to Western Sydney
– a place that the Afghani diaspora
calls home. We are honoured and
feel privileged to be your hosts.
The world is watching eagerly
and observing the progress in
recognising women’s rights and her
role in society since the 20s. As an
organisation with strong ties to the
local community we feel strongly
about our social responsibility to
support and promote global women
leadership and education
Communication with intent can
help improve our lives liberate us
from cultural limitations, address
domestic violence, forced marriage
and so on…. please by all means
the western world is facing the
exact same problems… intensified
amongst women from diverse
backgrounds.
And I also ask – what role does our
input play as women supporting
each other across the world? How
can we assist and learn from one
another? How can we influence?
Afghan Ambassador to Australia
His excellency Wahid Waissi
welcoming the Women Delegates
and thanking SydWest for co-
hosting recounted the Afghan-
Australia relationship since 1860s
and the 50 years of Afghan
Australia economic cooperation. He
stated that the important message
the Afghan Women wanted to
convey was one voice to promote
peace and security while raising
their concerns as women and
demanding equal rights.
Maryam Zahid, the brain behind
the Afghan Women on the Move
and well-known community
services personality coordinated
a lively panel discussion with the
Women Delegation members
who shared their thoughts and
aspirations such as “we face lot
of issues. But our aim is to keep
fighting, overcome challenges and
not stop till Afghan Women are
treated equally”.
Maryam Zahid said “The Afghan
women on the Move (AWOTM)
in collaboration with Sydwest
Multicultural Services had
the privilege and pleasure of
hosting and chairing the 2nd
Afghanistan- Australia Dialogue
#AusAfghanDialogue. On behalf of
#AWOTM, I would like to express
my sincere gratitude to the CEO
of Sydwest Multicultural Services,
Elfa Moraitakis and her team for
co-hosting this powerful event
with us AWOTM. I also take this
opportunity once again to thank
www.theindiantelegraph.com.
his Excellency Ambassador Wahid
Waissi from the Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan and his wonderful
team at the embassy for giving
us the opportunity. It is indeed
overwhelming for us seeing
Afghan women on leadership
key positions with such high
capacities who can articulate,
express and lead. We had the
opportunity to discuss about peace
process and its impact on women.
Furthermore, the participants had
the chance to know more about
women’s challenges, roles and
responsibility in the peace process
as well as women’s current and
future roles in politics, economy,
education and media. These
powerful delegates thought us to
stand firm and do not surrender
to ignorance, and suppression.
They also mentioned that alone
they cannot bring any positive
changes unless we work together
and stand with each other to save
Afghan nation from war, injustice,
ignorance and suppression.
Therefore, AWOTM will maintain
and continue their support in both
tangible and non-tangible forms,
to connect, empower and inspire
more disadvantaged women in
Afghanistan and around the world.
The AWOTM event enhanced
Afghanistan Australia relationship
further and was an eye opener
of the continuous struggle being
faced by Afghan Women in trying
to achieve equality in all walks
of life as the rest of the World
was celebrating the International
Women’s Day.