Ambassador and Madame Hakimi attend a charity concert in benefit of Talesh Private High School on June 26, 2009

June 26, 2009, Tokyo: Ambassador and Madame Hakimi attended a charity concert held to benefit Talash Private High School & Cultural Center’s new library. While at the event, Ambassador Hakimi expressed his gratitude to those involved for their efforts and dedication towards helping Afghan women and children.

Ambassador Hakimi delivered the opening speech for the event in which he spoke about the advances of women and the education sector in Afghanistan. The entire text of the speech can be read below.

This concert served as an example of the spirit of cooperation that exists between Afghanistan and Japan.

Ambassador Hakimi Addresses the Audience at June 26, 2009’s Charity Concert

Ladies and gentlemen, honorable guests, friends, it is with great pleasure that I speak to you at this evening’s Charity. I am honored to have been invited to this inspiring event as one of my first activities in Japan.

Afghan women and girls truly understand the real meaning of peace; peace within the family, peace within the community, peace for a nation and finally, world peace. Unfortunately, under the restrictive Taliban regime, they were forced to endure attacks upon their personal peace and freedoms. The suffering that this misguided group initiated was heinous and multi-faceted. Women were forced to leave the workforce and school, limited in medical care, required to wear burkas and to be escorted by a male member of the family when outside the home, as well as numerous other offensive restrictions.

Despite all of this, Afghan women have played an instrumental role in our nation’s path towards reconstruction and development. Their contributions to Afghanistan’s recovery have been invaluable. Today, with the restoration of their rightful liberties, our mothers, sisters, and daughters, as responsible citizens of our country, are actively involved in their families, communities, society, and government. In the first Afghan parliamentary elections in 2005, 44% of registered voters were women. Within the government, our sisters represent 28% of all Parliamentary members, we have a female Minister and Ambassador, the Governor of Bamiyan is an empowered woman, and key cities are run by female mayors. Our daughters represent 40% of 6.2 million children currently enrolled in schools with 40% of their teachers also being women. Professionally, women serve in our police force, make up 6.1% of all attorneys, and overall 38.2% of all women are economically active. Additionally, over 100,000 women have benefitted from micro-finance loans. Our Afghan sisters enjoy freedoms that allow them to leave the house whenever they choose, and enjoy life as they should; the burka, once a symbol of oppression, has been rightfully restored to its place as a symbol of a woman’s choice to dress as she chooses, be that traditionally or otherwise.

Despite these advancements, education and resources must be provided to the women of Afghanistan. As such, we are delighted by the support provided today as the proceeds of this Charity Concert will benefit Talash Private High School & Cultural Center’s new library. Through these kinds of initiatives, education, motivation, and skill progression will become the hallmark of our nation’s women.

In closing, on behalf of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I would like to applaud the organizers for their efforts to support women in Afghanistan and I would also like to extend my gratitude to everyone in attendance today for supporting this noble cause.

Thank you.