Female Afghan activist to address committee

The rights of Afghan women will be discussed for the first time at an Oireachtas Committee today.

The all-party parliamentary body on foreign affairs will meet representatives from the Afghan Women's Skills Development Center (AWSDC) in Leinster House.

AWSDC director Mary Akrami will speak on women's rights issues, justice, human rights and democracy. Ms Akrami (30) runs a shelter in Kabul for women in danger of violence and abuse.

She will later address a meeting in a Dublin hotel organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland on the theme: "Women in Afghanistan - Their Struggle for Equality".

PA