I’ve met many female leaders working to make a difference in Afghanistan.

Provincial cabinet members: In Mazar, three of the 40 cabinet members in the provincial government are women. They are the Director of Labor and Social Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Director of Women’s Affairs.  I asked them what it was like to be the first women. This unleashed a series of stories.  The Governor of the province is a former warlord (anti-Taliban, as I mentioned before) and strongly believes in promoting/advancing women’s rights.  So when all the agency heads submit their topics for cabinet meetings, the Governor delights in putting the three women’s suggestions first on the agenda!

Members of Afghanistan Parliament (MPs):  We have met now with four women MPs.  Today we met with the only non-Muslim person in the Parliament; she holds the one seat allotted to Sikhs.  All four have STRONG voices.