Two Afghan women have been awarded Kosovo’s Presidential Medal of Merit for their fight for human rights at an international summit yesterday.
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani presented the honour to activists Madina Darwazi and Arifa Fatimi at the International Forum on Women, Peace, and Security that runs until April 15.
Ms Fatimi said she received the medal in the name of all Afghan women.
“While Afghanistan has gradually been forgotten, I feel happy that such a medal has been awarded to Afghan women,” she told Rukhshana Media.
“Even though women inside the country are going through tough days, I want them to stay resilient and continue their path forward.
“We are in this together. We hope for greater solidarity among women worldwide so that we can ensure equality and justice for everyone.”
Ms Darwazi said she wished the honour could deliver some rights to women.
“I wish this medal was being granted for the right of women and girls in Afghanistan to have the freedom to live,” she told Rukhshana Media.
Prominent international figures including former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are attending the Pristina-based conference both in person and online, along with more than eight hundred delegates from forty countries worldwide.
Keynote speakers have covered topics on women’s security, especially reflecting the voices of survivors of sexual violence.
The forum also recognized the enormous struggle Afghan women face for their rights under Taliban rule.
Since seizing power of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has systematically dismantled most of the freedoms and rights of Afghan girls and women.
In keeping with their restrictions, the Taliban refused to allow four women to travel to Kosovo, Ms Fatimi said.
“The women were on the list [to travel] from Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not allow them to fly, so for now, only a few of us are here,” she said.
Ms Darwazi said the Taliban had denied the women travel because they did not have male chaperones, but this was just an excuse to silence women from being heard.
“A terrorist group that opposes women’s rights is in power, stripping Afghan women and girls of their most basic rights. This group didn’t allow women to leave so that they cannot raise their voices at international forums,” she said.
Zahra Nader and a woman who goes by one name Nadia accompanied Ms Darwazi and Ms Arifi to Kosovo.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the women who were denied departure from Afghanistan by the Taliban were Forum for Afghan Women employee Adila Yadgar, IOM employee Mahnaz Baluch, Just for Afghan Capacity and Knowledge Institute employee Negina Ahmadi, the Organization for Sustainable Aid in Afghanistan Freshta Yaqubi.
