The Afghan Women's Network, represented on video Rethink Afghanistan

The Afghan Women's Network is one of the organizations of women that oppose the Obama administration's surge and the US/NATO military occupation. The following information on AWN comes from their website and focuses on basic facts, including (at the end) the names of the organization's board of directors, including their emails.

Bob

-----------------------------

About Us [The Afghan Women's Network]

Background

In 1995, seven Afghan women who participated in the of the fourth United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing-China, along with other Afghan women decided to establish the Afghan Women's Network (AWN). A year later, in 1996, this informal initiative was developed into a formal structure in 1996.

AWN was operating out of Peshawar-Pakistan since its inception back in 1995 until they were shifted to Kabul in 2002.

AWN main office is based in Kabul with regional offices in Jalalabad and Herat. It has a liaison office in Peshawar-Pakistan that provides logistical support and outreach to the Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan.

Today, AWN is considered the only umbrella entity for women/gender-based organizations in Afghanistan. At present, AWN has 72 organizations and 3000 individuals as its members both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mission Statement AWN is a non-partisan Network of women and women’s NGOs working to empower Afghan women and ensure their equal participation in Afghan society. The members of the Network also recognize the value and role of children as the future of Afghanistan and, as such, regard the empowerment and protection of children as fundamental to their work. The Network seeks to enhance the effectiveness of its members by fostering partnership and collaboration between members, undertaking advocacy and lobbying, and building their individual capacities.

Vision

The Afghan Women’s Network envisions an Afghanistan in which all members – women, children, and men – participate equally. Furthermore, the members aspire to create an Afghan community which values, respects, and encourages the tremendous capacities of women and their contributions to Afghan culture and society.

Objectives:

To collect and disseminate information among members

To encourage coordination and facilitate dialogue and consultation on issues of concern amongst members and women organizations

To establish and maintain networks and relationships with key stakeholders and like-minded organizations

To facilitate research and analysis on issues of concern

To advocate with the Afghan Government, UN agencies and other relevant authorities on issues of concern

To represent the views of members and Afghan women organizations to the Afghan Government, UN agencies and other relevant authorities

To facilitate capacity building programs for members
Main Course of ActivitiesIn general, AWN is striving to achieve its mission by staying active in three major fields namely: Networking & Coordination, Advocacy and Capacity Building.

Organizational Structure

Board of Directors (BoD)

AWN is governed by its Board of Directors, who are selected once each year by popular votes of General Assembly Members.
Secretariat (Head Office)

Based in Kabul, AWN Secretariat (or Head Office) is answerable to the BoD. Meanwhile, it is responsible for the implementation of the strategies and plans that are endorsed by the Board of Directors. The Secretariat is led by the one Director, supported by one Deputy Director, Line Managers and Regional Office Directors.

Regional & Liaison Offices

We have regional offices in Jalalabad and Heart that cover neighboring provinces as well. In addition, we have a liaison office in Peshawar-Pakistan that provides logistical support and outreach to the Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan.

MembershipsAt present, AWN has 56 organizations and 3000 individuals registered as its members both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

AWN Board of Directors Members
Malika Qanih
Orzala Ashraf
Nafisa Khatibi
Mary Akrami
Sabrina Saqib
Makai Siawash
Hangama Anwari

Name: Malika Qanih
Educational Qualifications: Social Education Course in Germany (6 months), Social Education Institute Kabul (6 months), High school in Kunduz Province-Afghanistan
Current Position: Executive Director of Educational training Center for poor Women and girls of Afghanistan (ECW)
Other Memberships: FEFA, and Parliamentary Women’s Network (PWN), ACSNOP
Telephone: +93(0)70276065 / +93(0)7772012421
Email: ecw_afghanistan@yahoo.com

Name: Orzala Ashraf
Educational Qualifications: Masters in Development Studies and Planning from London University, UK
Current Position: Consultant at UNDP
Email: orzala.an@googlemail.com

Name: Nafisa Khatibi
Educational Qualifications: Graduated from Literature Faculty of Kabul University
Current Position: Director, Afghan Women Cultural Association (AWCA)
Telephone: (091) 5862051 / 0301-8895968
Email: Rashidmodarrisi@hotmail.com

Name: Mary Akrami
Educational Qualifications: BBA on Administration and Economy, Peshawar, Pakistan
Current Position: Director Afghan Women Skills Development Center (AWSDC)
Telephone: +93 (0) 70 287587 / +93 (0)799 337460
Email: mary.akrami@gmail.com / awsdckabul@hotmail.com

Name: Sabrina Saqieb
Educational Qualifications: University Graduation from Azad English Translation University. (Iran)
Current Position: Member of the Afghanistan Parliament
Telephone: +93(0)70159837 / +93 (0)799311577
Email: sabrina_sagheb@yahoo.com / sabrina_sagheb@hotmail.com

Name:Gul Maky Siawash
Educational Qualifications: Diploma from (Pedagogy Institute in Chemistry and Biology Section, Kabul Afghanistan.
Current Position: Director of Kabul Orthopedic Organization (KOO), Kabul-Afghanistan
Telephone: (0799)318220 / 0700210868
Email: maky_siawash@yahoo.com