ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS (AFGHANISTAN)

Afghan organization of the 1920s.

The Association for the Protection of Women's Rights (Anjoman-i-Himayat-i-Niswan) was founded in 1927 in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the direction of King Amanullah's (1919–1929) sister, Princess Kobra, its president, and Queen Soraya, Amanullah's wife, its main leader. Its main objectives were to help women become self-reliant and take part in the development of Afghanistan; to ensure women's right to education and to work outside the home; and to protect women against domestic abuse, including threats by male family members to prevent women from working outside the home. Cases of domestic abuse were heard and dealt with in special family tribunals presided over by the queen. The association offered courses in sewing, weaving, and other hand-icrafts, and it recruited women from low-income families to work in factories. In September 1928 several women participated in the Loya-Jirga (Grand Assembly) as representatives of the association to promote reforms to improve the status of women. The association had drafted a political platform and was ready to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections when its activities were interrupted by widespread opposition to Queen Soraya's campaign, begun in 1928, to unveil and emancipate women. The association was closed down shortly thereafter.

Bibliography

Nawid, Senzil K. Religious Response to Social Change in Afghanistan, 1919–29: King Aman-Allah and the Afghan Ulama. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 1999.

Senzil Nawid