No compromise on Constitution, women’s rights: Ghani

KABUL and protection of their achievements made over the past more than one decade.

The president was addressing an international symposium on Afghan Women Empowerment here. Ghani made it clear that no compromise would be made on the country’s Constitution.

Government officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of donor countries were among the participants who pledged continued assistance to women empowerment.

“Today is a special day, Afghan women’s voice and determination is heard by the international community. Today women in Afghanistan are in the leadership, they are ministers, ambassadors, judges, police officers and taking part in socio-economic development of the society more than the Afghan men,” he said.

The president said Afghan women believed in the country’s Constitution and Islamic fundamentals.

He stressed the need for protection of women’s work and achievements made in connection with their rights during the past 14 years.

“Afghan women don’t want a return to the Stone Age. They want progress equal to men and an equal and multidimensional role in the country’s development,” the president said.

He said it was a good omen both Afghan men and women had come to the conclusion that there was no place for extremism in the society and they had rejected such thoughts.

The president called as vital women’s role in areas of judiciary, security, politics, economy and culture and said women had achievements in these areas in recent years.

He demanded continued support of the international community for active role of women.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said the current symposium was part of the 2013, 2014 symposiums which were held in the US and Norway.

He said earlier symposiums on women empowerment were helpful and their results were shared with the international community at the London Conference.

Rabbani also termed the third symposium as important and said the gathering would help generate scholarly views on women’s empowerment in the country.

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