(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-06 16:42

KABUL -- The Afghanistan Ministry for Women Affairs has launched two new bodies to protect women rights and strengthen their status in the post-Taliban nation, a local newspaper reported Sunday.

The organizations titled "Healthy Family, Happy Society" and "Law and Women" are aimed at eliminating violence against women and helping establish a healthy and prosperous society, daily Afghanistan Times quoted Minister for Women Affairs Hosn Bano Ghazanfar as saying.

The Healthy Family, Happy Society would be carried out by religious leaders in several provinces of the country to give awareness on women rights, while the second body the Law and Women would be run by lawyers and prosecutors, the minister added.

Lawyers and prosecutors will, by publishing posters and launching informative campaigns, highlight the right of women envisaged in the country's constitution and guaranteed by Islam, the religion of Afghans.

Women during the six-year reign of Taliban regime toppled in late 2001 almost had no right as the hard-line movement had confined them to houses and closed girl schools.

However, in the post-Taliban era women have more freedom as they serve as parliamentarians, politicians, teachers and even ministers.

Nevertheless, women in war-ravaged country are still facing enormous problems as vast majority of them are illiterate and have been suffering from poverty, old tradition and forced marriage.