Welcome! - A Letter From Our Executive Director

Dear WAW Supporters,

Our first e-newsletter of 2011, our tenth anniversary year, comes to you in the midst of a crisis.  It also comes to you on a day when our work to empower Afghan women in New York is featured prominently in the New York Times. Today's article by Kirk Semple brings light to the important work we do to address domestic violence in New York's Afghan community, and makes the connection between our work in New York and across Afghanistan.
The Crisis: Two weeks ago, after spending two months in our New York office, I returned to Kabul—and to a dire situation.  An Afghan government-sponsored bill proposes to wrest the 14 women’s shelters in Afghanistan (including 4 run by WAW) from the organizations that have founded and run them and place them under the control of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.  At first, the feeling among all the women’s organizations here was that this bill was destined to become the law of the land and that this was the beginning of the end of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
However, we are no longer despondent.  WAW has played a key role in a powerful and effective advocacy campaign to:

1. Strategize closely with women’s organizations in Afghanistan, particularly those that also run shelters.
2. Rally international human rights organizations to protest this bill.
3. Make sure international media broadcast the voices of Afghan women on this issue.
4. Support efforts of the U.S. Government to convince President Karzai to withdraw the bill and allow Afghan women’s NGOs to keep their status as owners and directors of the shelters
5. Gather signatures from outraged individuals around the world on an online petition addressed to President Karzai.  The petition can be found HERE 

WAW is doing the work we exist to do: we are speaking out against every abuse of women’s human rights and mobilizing fearlessly for justice.  Our advocacy is having a positive impact.  In less than a week, our petition was signed by over 3,000 people from places as diverse as Japan, Hong Kong, Egypt, Canada, the United Kingdom and of course Afghanistan.  Gloria Steinem was among the first to sign the petition with this comment: “In no country in the world -- from Afghanistan to the U.S. -- should universal shelters be politicized.”  The U.S. State Department issued a statement cautioning President Karzai against taking over the shelters.  The current rumor, and our fervent hope, is that he will dismiss this regulation.
The crisis is not yet averted, and it is not yet time to celebrate.  If women’s NGOs lose autonomy over women’s shelters, the women’s rights movement in Afghanistan will suffer a severe, perhaps irreversible blow. It will mark the first step towards reversal of the considreable progress made by and for women in the past decade.  We must not let this happen.  WAW is asking every one of you to add your voice, do your part, for the women of Afghanistan.
This e-newsletter issue contains inspirational profiles of women we have served in Afghanistan and New York as well as updates on our programmatic work in both locations.  You will also read the enormous amount of press our advocacy work has received, including today's recognition in the New York Times. 
This is a critical moment in WAW’s journey, and the journey to women’s emancipation in Afghanistan.  We need you more than ever. 
Manizha Naderi

WAW's Tenth Anniversary Event

This is WAW’s tenth anniversary year!  Gloria Steinem and Eleanor Smeal, pioneers of the American women's movement, have graciously agreed to be co-chairs of our upcoming event to commemorate WAW’s decade on the front lines for women’s human rights.  Gloria and Ellie have been with WAW right from the beginning; they both spoke at our founding conference in 2001. Our special event will take place in New York on or around October 20, 2011.  Please stay tuned for details and help us make the event a success.

WAW Wish List

These are things we are in need of right now - please contact us if you can help!

1. Laptops for our ESL classes in Queens
2. An affordable or donated venue and caterer for our tenth anniversary fall event
3. A pro bono event planner for our tenth anniversary fall event
4. Volunteer website programmer for WAW's advocacy efforts

Maximize Your Gift Through Matching Funds

We want to thank all of you who made gifts during our end of year annual appeal. We have been truly heartened by your generosity in this difficult time. We'd like to ask your help in maximizing your gift. Did you know that many companies will match their employees' charitable donations dollar for dollar, or make a grant if an employee volunteers for a nonprofit?

If your company matches gifts to non-profits please let us know. We would be delighted to work with you to complete the necessary paperwork to maximize your donation to WAW.

From the Front Lines

Gul Andam’s Story (AFGHANISTAN)

When Gul Andam’s parents passed away she was forced to live with her brothers and their family. During that time, Gul Andam’s life was transformed to that of a slave. She was expected to serve their every need and was not permitted to go anywhere. Whenever the family was displeased they would physically and emotionally abuse her.

Gul Andam was a beautiful woman and had many prospective suitors, but whenever a suitor requested her hand in marriage the brothers would always request a large amount of money and the family would decline. After some time, Gul Andam fell in love with Turialy, a family friend, but even then her brothers refused to allow her to marry.  Instead, they accused her of adultery. Afraid of their accusations, Gul Andam felt helpless and when the opportunity presented itself she ran away to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

The AIHRC referred Gul Andam to WAW’s Kabul Family Guidance Center (FGC). We assigned her a caseworker and she stayed in our shelter.  However, as is the case with many women who are abused in Afghanistan, she questioned her decision and believed she shamed her family. Gul Andam decided she wanted to return to her family, so WAW’s caseworkers provided counseling and mediation to Gul Andam and her extended family. The family agreed to stop the abuse and promised not to obstruct her marriage, and so Gul Andam decided to return.

Initially we were delighted to hear that Gul Andam was happy and the abuse had stopped.  However, a few weeks after Gul Andam left us, our caseworkers conducted an unannounced home-visit and found Gulandam badly beaten with a broken arm. The caseworkers immediately removed Gul Andam from the situation and again provided her with counseling and shelter.

Since the incident Gul Andam’s brothers have visited our FGC many times asking to meet with Gul Andam, but she has consistently refused. After she settled into life at the shelter she began to show an interest in helping other women and working, so WAW employed her at the FGC kindergarten where she excelled.

When WAW opened its fifth FGC in Kunduz, we needed a caring and supportive caretaker to assist women in the shelter. WAW could think of no one better suited for the job than Gul Andam. Her determination and compassion will provide strength to other women. Gul Andam is now free and able to choose her path in life. 

Susan’s Story (NEW YORK)

Susan is a Turkish woman who was sold by her father to a man twenty years older than her.  Her Turkish husband was a Permanent Resident in the United States, and he brought Susan here illegally.  He frequently abused her.  He kept her in their home like a hostage by telling her that her visa was expired and she would get into trouble if she ventured out.  She did not tell her family about the abuse because she knew they depended upon the money her husband sent them.

When Susan became pregnant, her husband’s abuse was so terrible that she suffered a miscarriage.  Even as she lay in the hospital, she was too scared to tell anyone about the beatings.  The abuse was finally discovered by a friend of Susan’s.  As they were dressing for an event, the friend saw bruises all over Susan’s body and confronted her about it.  When Susan’s husband was arrested for an unrelated crime, her friend took advantage of the opportunity to help Susan escape.  Susan ended her marriage through an Islamic divorce. 

Susan spent time in the shop her friend worked in, and there she met an American man who was loving and kind to her.  Throughout their courtship, he was the devoted gentleman she had always hoped to meet.  However, soon after they were married, her second husband became emotionally, verbally, and economically abusive.  Her husband, though never physically violent, would shout and throw things with the slightest provocation.  Susan learned from her husband’s family that he had a long history of anger management issues. 

Her second husband never filed her immigration paperwork, and he forced her to work and give her earnings directly to him.  He refused to give her any money, even for necessities; she had to grovel for something as basic as a bra. 

After a few years of marriage, Susan’s earnings had helped to pay off all of her husband’s car, credit card, and other debt.  Once all of his debts were satisfied, he ordered her out of the house. 

Susan sought help from several organizations.  Eventually, she was referred to WAW, which has the experience, sensitivity and cultural understanding to empower a Muslim woman who was sold as a young bride, and who has suffered so much abuse.  Within a few days of meeting Susan, we arranged for a pro bono attorney to help get her immigration documents in order, referred her to a psychotherapist, and accompanied her to the hospital to apply for an insurance card that only requires a small co-payment for prescriptions and appointments.  WAW will continue to help Susan as she needs us.

Program Updates

WAW's heightened advocacy efforts around the crisis facing women’s shelters has not detracted from our programmatic work in Afghanistan. In fact, we are busier than ever.

Children’s Support Center: There are currently 44 (22 girls and 22 boys) residing in the CSC.  Twenty-three of our children not only passed their annual exams but placed in the top three in their class!  The younger children continue to attend classes in the CSC and will be ready to test into government schools in the spring.  The children are happy and flourishing.  They are currently on winter break from school—relaxing, watching television, playing board games and going on picnics.  We are very proud of their accomplishments and will encourage and support their desire to obtain an education and make a difference in future of Afghanistan.