A group of women on Saturday launched an anti-harassment against women campaign which they said they hoped would highlight the problem in the country.

The group, who were joined by some men, started their campaign at Kabul University. 

Organizers said the campaign will also be launched in Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif cities.

“Traditional thoughts and structures and a male-dominated society in Afghanistan have fomented harassment against women which in some cases is tolerated silently,” Fariha Isaar, an organizer of the event, said.

“This (move) is not only in Kabul but it will be launched in Herat and Balkh provinces as well,” Nasrin Nilam Rasa, an organizer of the campaign, said.

Kabul University Chancellor Hamidullah Farooqi said the move was a civic initiative.

“We are happy that this campaign has been launched by civil society, legal organizations, educational and academic institutions. It is an important matter in society,” he added.

Last year witnessed an increase in the number of anti-harassment against women campaigns across the country. 

Figures by the Ministry of Justice show that in this period, more than 75,000 people were reached in awareness campaigns and encouraged to stand up to harassment, violations and for women to defend their financial rights.