Monika Hauser: "We stand together resolutely and powerful for the rights of women and girls."

The events in Afghanistan have made us angry, cost us a great deal of energy, and often almost led us to despair. However, we also experienced an overwhelming wave of solidarity, encouraging letters and e-mails, and donations. It is your support which carried us and our colleagues in Afghanistan through the difficult moments. And it still does.

At present we are happy and grateful to be able to report that some of our colleagues have finally been able to reach Germany, along with their immediate family. Unfortunately, the great majority of them are still in Afghanistan. We will continue to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to ensure our remaining colleagues and their families can leave Afghanistan.

The crisis in Afghanistan has shown how quickly women can be stripped of the rights they had to fight long and hard for. The life of women in Afghanistan has deteriorated dramatically in the last four months. If we look at current political and social developments, then we see that women’s rights are under threat around the world – and this is reinforced by the ongoing pandemic which exacerbates existing inequalities.

It is therefore even more important to join together continue our powerful efforts to counter these developments. We cannot abandon the political arena and leave it in the hands of conservative, anti-feminist powers, fundamentalists and dictators. With your solidarity you have shown us that you are at our side. It is extremely touching and encouraging to know how many people are following the common aim of achieving a life in dignity and justice for women and girls.

Our Afghan colleagues, the team at medica mondiale and I all thank you for the wide-ranging support you gave us this year. Our work would not be possible without you.

I wish you a peaceful end to the year and only the best for 2022.

Yours truly,

Monika Hauser