Ottawa - The Embassy of Afghanistan in Canada in collaboration with BloWup Photogalerie, commemorated international Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8th, in Montréal.

This event featured Canadian photographer Lana Slezic and an exhibition of her photos on life and women in Afghanistan. Ms. Slezic recently returned from a year-long assignment in Afghanistan.

The exhibit entitled “NEVER CONQUERED, the enduring spirit of women in Afghanistan” illustrates the effects of war on women and the power of the human spirit to overcome incredible obstacles.

Under the oppressive Taliban regime, Afghan women had no rights and suffered as non-citizens forbidden from education, work, proper healthcare, and travel even within city limits without a male guardian or relative. After the September 11th 2001 tragedy, Kabul was finally liberated through the efforts of Coalition forces – and so were Afghan women. The achievements thus far in Afghanistan have been heroic but the going has been slow, and the long road ahead to democracy is filled with obstacles for the Afghan people and especially Afghan women to overcome.