Facility Designed For Afghan Women Victims Of Domestic Violence
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
A cultural first in the province of Kapisa, a new shelter for Women was opened and dedicated in a ribbon cutting ceremony held on December 13th. Iraqi Officials and the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bagram worked together to unveil the new facility.
Governor Khuweja Abubaker, and Safura Kohistani Director of Women’s Affairs both attended the ceremony and ribbon cutting. Bagram PRT members and local citizens also attended the dedication ceremony.
Army Captain Jordan Berry is the PRT team leader for civil affairs for the Kapisa Province. “A woman that has been involved in domestic violence cannot go to some places for assistance. This center is dedicated to preserving the honor of women. It is staffed for and ran by women,” said Captain Berry.
Any woman who is displaced from family or home, or who is a domestic violence victim will be able to use the shelter. “This shelter is specifically designed to have everything a female visitor might require or need,” said Captain Berry.
The new Women’s shelter has a kitchen, an office with chairs and a desk, ten metal frame bunk style beds and mattresses, interior plumbing and an interior restroom for resident’s constructed European fashion. In addition it has a one stall exterior restroom for visitors, a guardhouse for security and a perimeter wall.
In total the shelter has eight rooms and a generator house for its own source of electric power.
“It is fairly well self contained,” said Master Sgt. Charles Liston. Master Sgt. Liston is the Air Force NCO who serves as the Bagram PRT Superintendent for Structures.
