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Afghan mothers' names allowed on birth certificates

Birth Certificates - Level 0

Women in Afghanistan have one more right. The names of mothers can be put on their children's birth certificates. Before, only the father's name was allowed. Campaigners started a social media campaign for this in 2017. In Afghanistan, a woman's name is often not included on wedding invitations.

Afghanistan said the law was "a big step forward for women's rights". A campaigner said a mother can now put her child in school and travel, without a man being there. Another campaigner said her happiness may seem strange for women in other countries, but getting this right was a big thing.

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Birth Certificates - Level 1

There is a victory for women's rights in Afghanistan. The names of mothers can be put on children's birth certificates. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowed. Afghanistan has said a new law means the mother's name can be put on certificates. Campaigners started a social media campaign in 2017 to fight for this. In Afghanistan, a woman's name is often not included on wedding invitations.

Afghanistan called the law, "a big step forward for women's rights". A campaigner said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power...to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man...enroll her children in school and travel." Another campaigner said: "My...happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are...excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big...task."

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Birth Certificates - Level 2

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Women's rights in Afghanistan got a rare victory. For the first time, the names of mothers will be on children's birth certificates, next to the father's name. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowed on birth certificates. The Afghan government has just announced a new law for the mother's name to be written on certificates. Campaigners started a social media campaign in 2017 to fight for women's rights to have their names on official documents. In Afghanistan, a woman's name is often not included on wedding invitations.

Afghanistan's Vice-President called the new law "a big step forward for women's rights". The founder of the campaign group said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her certain powers to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man...enroll her children in school and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are...excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult task."

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Birth Certificates - Level 3

Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating a rare victory. For the first time, the names of mothers will be put on their children's birth certificates, alongside the father's name. Mothers' names will also be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just announced a new law to allow this. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used social media to fight for the right of women to have their names on official documents. It is common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on wedding invitations.

Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The decision to include the mother's name on the ID card is a big step forward for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her certain powers to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man, get documents for her children, enroll her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult task."

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