Lyn Brown MP is supporting an international campaign to press for women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Lyn took part in an event in Parliament on Wednesday 23 November which saw a cross-party group of MPs and peers having their photograph taken in front of hundreds of handmade kites designed by campaigners from around the country to symbolise their support for women’s rights in Afghanistan. 

The campaign - led by ActionAid UK, Amnesty International UK, CARE UK, GAPS, Womankind Worldwide and Women for Women International - has seen 18,000 campaigners petition the UK government to support Afghan women’s rights, with more than 8,000 kites designed.

Campaigners are using the kite symbol because in Afghanistan women and girls make kites but are effectively prevented from actually flying them because of cultural attitudes that make it socially unacceptable. 

Lyn Brown said: ‘I was absolutely appalled to read of a mother and daughter who were dragged from their home and stoned and shot by the Taliban. Campaigns like this are important so that we remember the most vulnerable in Afghanistan and ensure we put women and girls human rights at the fore front of peace negotiations.’

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: ‘We’d like to see all Parliamentarians supporting this campaign for women rights in Afghanistan.’

Write to Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, email brownl@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 6999.