Afghans mark Women's Day against backdrop of women's low awareness of their rights

"Believe me, I have no knowledge about International Women's Day today, or other days dedicated to celebrating and respecting women. The only thing I know about women is that they should take care of their husbands and her children," a female passerby told Xinhua.

In her 30s and declining to give her name, the lady whispered that "this is the first time I have heard about International Women's Day and what it means."

In Afghanistan, traditions are deeply rooted, and women often refuse to reveal their names, but the status of women in post- Taliban Afghanistan has noticeably improved of late, with women serving as parliamentarians, cabinet members, civil servants and human rights activists fighting to ensure equity with men in the conservative society.

In modern Afghanistan, women are involved in art, politics, economics and other social activities including singing, photography and performing arts.

However, the efforts to empower women in society have been largely focused on big cities like Kabul.

Government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and women's right activists groups have marked and will mark International Women's Day by organizing workshops and conferences in Kabul and other cities, both ahead and after the official date.

Nevertheless, many Afghans especially in the countryside where the majority of the population live are mostly unaware of International Women's Day and women's rights in general.

"I have no idea about International Women's Day and what it means," said a 42-year-old lady begging on the streets, calling herself Sayeda.

Sitting on a dusty road in Kabul on Saturday, Sayeda who was asking for alms said, "My demand from the government is to support widows by providing job opportunities, by launching small income generating projects for women to work."

"I have never been invited to any conferences with regard to women's rights, no one has told me about my rights in society. My husband was killed in a suicide attack in Kandahar three years ago. I migrated to Kabul to find a job but failed and poverty forced me to ask for alms to support my children," she said.

Like Sayeda, scores of poor women and girls can be seen begging on Kabul's streets everyday to earn a living for their families.

Even though women's status has been improving in Afghanistan, women and girls are still subjected to violence in the post- Taliban era in Afghanistan's rural, lawless areas.

However, in cities including Kabul, the physical harassment of women and girls on the streets is also commonplace.

To protest against such street harassment, a women's rights activist donned armor and walked Kabul's streets last week to win the attention of the government towards the women's plight.

"Violence against women and girls has no place on streets, in schools or universities," Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said in his speech on Thursday at a conference about respecting women's rights in society.