Press Release

Afghanistan Commemorates International Women’s Day

Investing in Women and Shaping Progress

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Saturday, March 08, 2008

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrates the accomplishments of all Afghan women who contribute to the development of Afghanistan and congratulates the people of Afghanistan for investing in the women of this country.

On International Women’s Day, March 8th, the United States proudly stands with women and men around the world to acknowledge women’s essential roles and celebrate their critical contributions to economic, social, and political advancement.  To help support women in Afghanistan, the United States Congress, representing the American people, passed legislation to allocate $75 million for programs that directly benefit the female population of Afghanistan.  The United States is using this funding in Afghanistan for programs to improve health care, increase opportunities for education and economic development, and strengthen legal rights for the women of Afghanistan.

USAID’s long-standing and dedicated commitment to improving women’s status and removing constraints on their economic, social, and political potentials continues unabated.  USAID welcomes and reaffirms its continuing leadership role in addressing the many remaining challenges women face in development and in identifying and addressing evolving ones.

Over the last several decades, the world has rallied to the struggle for women’s equality and rights, often led by courageous women, who endeavor to build a better world for their children, families, societies, and themselves.  On International Women’s Day, the United States acknowledges and honors the courageous women, and the men who support them, who together are working to make the world a better place.