The Women in Tech Afghanistan Chapter officially launched on February 22nd, 2023. The launch event was online, with a live stream from the official LinkedIn page of the Women in Tech Global Movement.
The program started with a statement by Dr. Zahra Nazari, ambassador for the Afghanistan chapter. She talked about the current situation of Afghan women and the gender digital divide challenge worldwide, specifically in Afghanistan. Then Ms. Ayumi Moore Aoki officially inaugurated the Afghanistan chapter. She thanked the Afghanistan team for taking steps to open up this chapter for Afghanistan. She also said that Afghan women don’t have the right to learn, which is a fundamental human right, and that everyone should help them in this sad situation. Ayumi added that women in tech is an organization and a worldwide call to stand for girls and women’s empowerment.
Next, Professor Laleh Behjat from the University of Calgary was the keynote speaker. Her speech was about Afghan women, the current situation, unequal opportunities for women, and the fundamental rights that the Taliban deprived. Finally, Afghanistan chapter members introduced the chapter, events, and programs in detail. The Q&A session was the last part of the program. Many attendees from different countries asked questions and showed interest in helping Afghan women.