Austria (Muhammad Amir Siddique)A rally will be held in Vienna. Several women hold a banner at a rally in solidarity with Afghan women and girls in Platz der Menschenrechte Wien 7 on 20 August 2021 in Austria.
The protest has been called by the SPÖ women, Viennese SPÖ women and Volkshilfe Austria to support the rights of Afghan women and girls, after the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, has fallen into the hands of the Taliban. In light of the Taliban taking power in the country this week, campaigners have said they want to send a message of support to those who fear for their future in Afghanistan, especially women and girls. Many speakers there especially the Afghan Ambassador to Austria, H.E Manizha Bakhtari, Eva-Maria Holzleitner Zur SPÖ- Frauenvorsitzenden, Tanja Wehsely. Geschäftsführung Volkshilfe Wien and Marina Henke Viennese SPÖ women. The Speakers said in a rapidly changing context as the Taliban are on the cusp of seizing the city of Kabul. We stand in solidarity with our sisters, in Afghanistan. we know too well the structural and entrenched barriers Afghan women and girls face to live a life free from violence and harm. Afghan women, in all their diversity, find themselves at the toxic intersections of decades of war, political and economic instability, the total collapse of basic services from clean water to safe health care, the weaponization in the ideologies of foreign powers and extremist co-religionists who both justify violence in the name of gender justice and/or faith. The devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic add to the misery and gravity of the situation now facing women, girls and the Afghan people. Afghan women and girls are being let down again. The tragic and personal sacrifices endured by them and the Afghan people in their pursuit for justice and equality now seem in vain. We ask neighbouring countries to keep their borders open and ensure safe passage to fleeing refugees. We demand that all and any efforts to resolve this political crisis that has led to tragic humanitarian devastation involve Afghan women and the indigenous women human rights movement as central partners and coalition members in any effort to respond to this conflict. SPÖ women, Viennese SPÖ women and Volkshilfe Austria will send a strong message to tell the Afghan women they are not alone. The Austrian people have shown they care about what happens to the Afghan women, about democracy and human rights. Let’s show the Afghan women that Austria has not forgotten them in their time of crisis and stands with them for unity, equality, peace and diversity.” Closing Rally remarks Eva-Maria Holzleitner Zur SPÖ-Frauenvorsitzenden said I want to thank all who have joined us here today as well.
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