E-mail from Kabul

Patricia Licuanan, president of Miriam College, is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan on invitation of the United Nations to help set up a Ministry of Women’s Affairs there. Tatti is one of the most respected women leaders in the region, having chaired the United Nations International Women’s Conference in Beijing in 1995. She also headed the National Commission for Women in the Philippines. It is a singular honor for a Filipina to have been tapped for this difficult but crucial task of helping rebuild a culture devastated by years of oppressive fanaticism.

We share with you this e-mail she sent from Kabul:

"It is 3:45 in the afternoon of March 8 in Kabul and I want to greet all of you a happy International Women’s Day from war-torn post-Taliban Afghanistan. Things are quiet now after a truly exciting celebration of International Women’s Day this morning. I feel so privileged to have been here at this historic time. Who would have thought this possible a few months ago.

"But here we were at the compound of the newly-formed Ministry of Women’s Affairs which had a carnival atmosphere despite very tight security. There was real danger that Osama Bin Laden would have used this event to make a dramatic statement. So I was thrilled and scared at the same time. The venue for the program was quite dramatic. It was held in the ruins of an old cinema house which many of the Afghans remember but was destoyed by the Taliban who declared movies as evil. The walls were burned and full of holes and there was no roof but with banners on the wall and huge red and white tents from Pakistan on the roof, it was a great setting. The dignitaries were on stage and the media was in the balcony and Afghan women from all over the country filled the hall.

"There were the usual speeches (a bit too many) from the Prime Minister Harim Karzai, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN for Afghanistan, the Executive Director of unifem and the UN High Commisioner for Refugees. Children sang songs and released doves. And a 90-meter tapestry was sent from Pakistan by the refugee women both Afghan and Pakistani.

"Prior to the March 8 celebration there was a national consultation for women from all over the country and they talked about the needs of women and their common vision for the future. When you hear their stories you are amazed by the ability of the human spirit to survive and the capacity to hope. These women want to be part of rebuilding their country. A declaration from the consultation was read at the March 8 program.

"My work continues for a few more days. Very interesting but very slow and difficult. I have to rush because I am just hitching a ride–we are not allowed to take taxis or walk so we are totally dependent on the UN cars. So again from Kabul, Happy Women’s Day!"