Fatema's plight is shared by millions in Afghanistan, where patriarchal tradition, poverty and a lack of education have held back women's rights for decades. According to the United Nations, 87 percent of Afghan women have experienced some form of physical, sexual or psychological violence. "They said this is not a safe place for women, that their place is at home," said another. And it is not just the women seeking shelter who are vulnerable, with Amnesty International saying shelter workers also "risk violence and death". One of the few shelters open -- albeit discretely -- is run by Mahbouba Seraj, a pioneer in the struggle for women's rights in the country.

Source: Bangkok Post January 02, 2022 14:36 UTC