A sign-toting group of people wearing red scarves marching through James Bay and downtown on Sunday drew curious looks from tourists and residents alike.
Members and supporters of the Victoria chapter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan marched 2.5 kilometres for the fourth annual Red Pashmina Walk in Victoria, many wearing the namesake scarves in support of education and human rights for Afghan women and girls.
One of those marching was Catherine Lang, a longtime member of the Victoria chapter whose niece Michelle was killed by an improvised explosive device while reporting from Afghanistan for the Calgary Herald in 2009. Four Canadian soldiers also died in the explosion.
“Her plans were to write about the work of the organization and to see the children at school, and the teacher training programs that we were doing at the time,” Lang said, adding that Michelle wasn’t able to tell those stories before she died.
“She wanted to report on the ordinary lives of regular Afghan people. She was interested in the health-care system.”
Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan has been supporting education for Afghan women and girls for more than 25 years. It’s calling, among other things, for the international community to recognize the gender apartheid they say is occurring under the Taliban administration.
Naliny Parikh, a first-time attendee, said it’s shocking to see all the rules that have been implemented since the Taliban took power in 2021, saying it seems like they just want women to marry and have children and have no rights.
Lauryn Oates, executive director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and instructor at Royal Roads University, said it’s easy for people to feel like they can’t do anything about the situation.
Yet, she said, “It’s actually really critical that we do everything that we can to find workarounds to reopen education and restore the right to education for women and girls.”
The organization pivoted to providing online schooling after the Taliban banned girls over 10 from attending school, including post-secondary institutions.
“We need schooling that can reach people where they are,” Oates said, adding that an educated populace will be key for rebuilding the country once the Taliban are out of power.
Grace Lore, minister of state for child care, also marched at the event.
While the B.C. government has limited ability to affect the issue, Lore said, it’s important to show solidarity with women 10,000 kilometres away.
The Red Pashmina walk was co-founded in Peterborough, Ont., by Maryam Monsef, who would later become a member of Parliament and a minister for women and gender equality.
