Holding a gathering in Kabul, several women activists discussed ways for women to gain a political and social presence in society, urging the Islamic Emirate to let women contribute within the new government's structure.

To mark this year's "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence," women called on the Islamic Emirate to give them a role to play in various sectors of the society based on Islamic values and rules.

"Many challenges lay in front of women in the previous government; right now, the women do not have access to their rights either--rights to education or to work. So we ask the Islamic Emirate to fulfill the commitments that they promised earlier," said Diana Azizi, a women's activist.

The participants also talked about the place of women in the Islam religion.

"If we carefully study our religion and sharia, both our homes and society will become full of prosperity, our Islamic commandments clearly say this about the rights of women," said Abeda Majidi, a university teacher.

Amnesty International said on November 25 that the international community must stand by its long-term commitment to support women's rights in Afghanistan.

"These stories offer a powerful and timely reminder of just how far Afghan women had come over the past twenty years in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. They also provide a sobering insight into how life has transformed for women and girls since the Taliban's return," said Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International's South Asia campaigner.

"We urge the Taliban to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of women and girls. We call on the international community to engage directly with Afghan women to understand their reality, listen to their pragmatic recommendations, and work with them to support women's rights," said Hamidi.

Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate imposed some restrictions on women and girls. Still, recently the Islamic Emirate Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund said that the government is committed to respecting women's rights following Islamic values.