BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (August 13, 2008) —  More than 100 local women attended the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team Woman’s Shura in Anaba District, Aug. 4, participated in the welfare of their villages and addressed ongoing issues.

Air Force Capt. Jillian Torango, Panjshir PRT, and Miriam Panjshiri, director of women’s affairs, represented their organizations at the shura.

Shuras are important for the PRT as well as local government representatives because they ensures that local voices are heard by both groups, said Torango, who explained the Panjshir PRT tries to conduct women’s shuras once a month to ensure that the voices of Afghan women are heard and their concerns are addressed. Essentially, shuras serve as a platform to allow Afghan women the freedom of speech. 

“Every time I meet with the women of Panjshir, I leave with two very distinct feelings,” said Torango.  “First, I appreciate the freedoms I have as an American. Second, it makes me feel very positive about the way women feel empowered to help with their families and communities.”

The successful turnout of Afghan women, along with the eagerness to speak their minds about what is going on in their families and communities is a credit to the DoWA and PRT. 

Panjshir is a highly-conservative region where women typically interact within the same small groups.  The interaction at the Panjshir PRT Woman’s Shura testifies to the relationship between the women of Panjshir, DoWA and the PRT.

An Air Force medical technician, Tech. Sgt. Dawn Tiemann, attended the shura with Torango to answer medical questions and make the Afghan women feel more at ease. Feeling comfortable is essential to promote a free flow of ideas, said Torango.

“These women all have great ideas about what can be done to make their villages better,” explained Torango. “For instance, they talk about the need for power, drinking water and schools.” 

With many widows and large families in Panjshir, humanitarian assistance and vocational training is very important.

“The women talk about wanting to learn skills that will help generate money for their families and villages,” said Torango. “Women want to work and little by little, they’re being able to.”

The DoWA and PRT are supported by the Afghan government, said Torango, who explained that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, located in Kabul, is the lead agency promoting advancement for women in Afghanistan. 
The ministry’s mission is to ensure women have legal, economic, social, political, and civil rights including the right to be free from all forms of violence and discrimination. 

Women’s shuras, such as those held monthly in Panjshir province, are a medium for continued progress, said Torango.