On Thursday, November 24, 2022, the OSAA organization celebrated the International Day for Prohibition of Violence Against Women (November 25) at the conference hall of Hotel Arg in Herat city. In this gathering, which was held under the title (Say no to violence), the information and culture director in Herat province, the deputy of the UNAMA regional office, the leadership of international organizations and active social associations, and dozens of civil activists and active women participated. At the beginning of the program, Ms. Fareshta Yaqoubi, managing director of OSAA, while welcoming the guests, explained the social activities of this organization regarding the support of women, youth, children, and vulnerable groups in the western provinces of Afghanistan and emphasized the adoption of common approaches by the civil activists to reduce violence against women. Next, Dr. Sayed Mahdi Afzali, one of the religious scholars, spoke about the Islamic values of preventing violence, living together, and accepting each other. Mr. Afzali said that Islam emphasizes family ethics and that violence in society should be eliminated. Subsequently, Mawlana Naeemulhaq Haqqani, director of information and culture, said that violence should be eliminated at the community level and the culture of mutual tolerance should be promoted as well. Masouma Jami, head of Zinda Jan District Women’s Council, spoke about the bitter experiences in the lives of women and the injuries caused by violence against women in Afghanistan in the past decades; she requested support for the right to education of girls in Afghanistan so we could see enlightenment and change in the future. Recently, Mohammad Rafiq Shaheer, the head of the Herat Council of Specialists, summarized the program and talked about the challenges caused by violence and ways to promote mutual tolerance in society.
