Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan

"RAWA" redirects here. For other uses and the term Rawa, see Rawa.
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
Founded1977
FounderMeena Keshwar Kamal
TypeWomen's organization
FocusPromoting women's rights and secular democracy
Location
Area served
Pakistan and Afghanistan[1]
Websitewww.rawa.org Edit this at Wikidata

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) (Persian: جمعیت انقلابی زنان افغانستان, Jamiʿat-e Enqelābi-ye Zanān-e Afghānestān, Pashto: د افغانستان د ښڅو انقلابی جمعیت) is a women's organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan, that promotes women's rights and secular democracy. It was founded in 1977 by Meena Keshwar Kamal, an Afghan student activist who was assassinated in February 1987 for her political activities.[2] The group, which supports non-violent strategies,[3] had its initial office in Kabul, Afghanistan, but then moved to Pakistan in the early 1980s.

The organization aims to involve women of Afghanistan in both political and social activities aimed at acquiring human rights for women and continuing the struggle against the government of Afghanistan based on democratic and secular, not fundamentalist principles, in which women can participate fully.[4] RAWA also strives for multilateral disarmament. Since 1977, the group opposed all the Afghan government systems: the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic State of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996-2001), the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2001-2021), and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (from 2021).

  1. ^ "RAWA's Social Activities". Rawa.org. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  2. ^ Toynbee, Polly (September 28, 2001). "Behind the burka". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "About RAWA..." www.rawa.org.
  4. ^ "RAWA testimony to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing". U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus. December 18, 2001. Archived from the original on June 28, 2007.