Members and activists of the Afghan Women’s Justice Movement have launched a public awareness campaign under the slogan “Menstruation Is Not a Taboo” to mark Menstrual Hygiene Week.
Organizers of the campaign say the initiative aims to increase awareness about menstrual health, improve women’s and girls’ access to healthcare services, and create a safer environment for open discussions about menstruation in Afghanistan.
Campaign activists stressed that they want to break the silence and social stigma surrounding menstruation and challenge harmful attitudes toward women and girls.
Zahra Mousavi, one of the participants in the campaign, told Afghanistan International that the movement wants to speak about what she described as the “silent suffering of women.”
“Menstruation in Afghanistan is associated with shame for girls,” Mousavi said. “Even women and girls who experience menstruation are labeled as shameless, and we want to break this taboo.”
She added that many girls grow up in an environment shaped by judgment and silence, making menstrual health awareness an urgent issue in Afghanistan.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed every year on May 28 and aims to break social taboos while improving women’s and girls’ access to education, healthcare, and proper menstrual hygiene facilities.
The United Nations says social stigma and shame surrounding menstruation often lead to lack of information, unhealthy practices, and restrictions affecting women and girls.
UNICEF has also warned that menstruation remains a major taboo issue in Afghanistan, where many girls experience it with feelings of shame, fear, and social exclusion.
Women’s rights activists say that as long as menstruation remains surrounded by silence and stigma, women and girls will continue facing serious barriers in education, healthcare, and social participation.
