As RSDO has grassroots base in the afghan community, we found that traditional practice and ignorance stood as one of the main factors for violations to women rights and gender discrimination especially in rural areas. Women do not enjoy their basic rights; because they
are not given permission to talk and express their opinion or decide about issues affect their rights. Participation of women in the decision making and other related development issues is a challenge. Forced/early marriage is another type of violence that is a big concern in afghan community. In common, girls and boys do not see each other before marriage and parents play a leading role in arranging marriage and their decision is not rejected at all, thus, it often leads to immolation.

All these caused women remained bashful, weak and scared. In order to change the situation; RSDO dedicated to have some fundamental intervention at the grassroots and national level. We have implemented several women empowerment and gender equity related projects in western region of Afghanistan.
We have conducted a legal rights awareness project in Karokh, Rabat Sangee and Herat city, gender equity training for Imams in 5 districts of Herat province (Karohk, Rabat Sangee, Zandajan, Obe, Gozara, Kohsan and Zandajan districts.
We have also conducted human rights and gender equity workshop for mosque Imams and convinced them to deliver the workshop contents in their Friday speech “Khotbah” and warn people about violence against women. The workshops tackled the women rights from Islamic prospective that include right of choice, right of heritage, right of ownership etc. We appreciate role of local imams in bringing positive changes in the women social and political situation. People accept speech of Imams and religious leader this caused that we gain great achievements in this project and great change in women life.

Eliminating violence against women through engaging religious leader to protect and talk about women’s rights.

Statutory Afghan law is primarily based on Islamic principles and we have developed the mechanism to integrating the women rights advocacy through Religious Leader in Imam Khotab. Through the Government officials ( Ministry of Pilgrimage) we have urged Mullahs to explain and educate the public in women’s rights, through the teachings and principles of Islam. Initially religious leaders, elders andcivil society will work together for developing the mechanism arranges the campaign of eradication of violence against women. The Ulamas should state at Friday Khotab (public speech) that Islam is against all type of violence and discriminations against women. They also will state that all these gender discriminations and traditional practices are inconsistent with the principles of Islam.

In addition we have trained Mullahs on how to reach people and deliver the message of peace for women and no violence against women and women empowerment. We have carried out the following activities:

• Encouraged Mullahs to talk in their Friday sermons and private counselling lessons about the equality of men and women and the punishment of God for the violence against women by giving some examples from verses from the Holy Qur’an.
• We have facilitated the discussion with Mullahs that they should emphasize that Islam has given women an entire bill of rights and we are compulsory to respect them otherwise we should wait for a punishment by court and by God.
• Mullahs preached about the necessity of treating women with respect and discourage the usage of negative terminology in reference to
  women, such as siasar, zanak, ajeza (incapable), property, etc.
• Mullahs have used stories of the Prophet and women luminaries in Islam to promote the empowerment and equality of women. Mullahs talked to their congregation about the value of education and literacy for men and women; offer literacy classes for adults.
• Mullahas educated their followers on Islamic teachings that support equality in marriage and women’s rights, and disown violence
  against women. Mullahs play a significant role in the community and can be catalysts for changing behavior. 
• Explained the differences between Islamic teaching and traditional customs.
• They actively worked with government and civil society to initiate public awareness campaigns that promote human rights and contain proper Islamic interpretations.
• They emphasized that Islam has given women an entire bill of rights.  Use stories of the Prophet and women luminaries in Islam to promote the empowerment and equality of women.