Were Afghan Women to Unveil Their Tales

“Were Afghan Women to Unveil Their Tales” is a project that gives a close and respectful look into Afghan women’s lives, showing what they go through in a difficult reality. Afghanistan today faces many problems, and one of the most serious is the loss of women’s rights and freedom. Since the Taliban took control again, over seventy rules have been made to restrict women’s access to education, work, healthcare, and freedom to move. This harsh environment has greatly worsened the lives of Afghan women, as shown by their own stories. These limits affect women everywhere, from public spaces to their own homes, where they face daily restrictions on movement, opportunities, and even small decisions. Afghan women continue to show incredible strength. Their daily choices like leaving home, running businesses, or organizing in their communities, are brave acts. These actions show a deep determination to hold onto their identity in a society that tries to limit their freedom. Afghan women’s lives are shaped by an inner strength that withstands the pressure of an environment set up to hold them back.

Valentina Sinis

Valentina Sinis is a documentary photographer, based in China and the Middle East. She is the co-founder of LOTS (Life On The Street) Magazine and a contributor to the EyesOnChina project.

Valentina’s projects gravitate toward the quirky and unusual and portray offbeat realities and people on the margins, showing a deep bond with the subjects. Her photos are a thorough but delicate insight into idiosyncrasies, hidden meanings, and all those little gestures that are either taken for granted or sensationalized — but rarely investigated. Fluent in Chinese, she started by working for the European Pressphoto Agency, EPA, in China. Her pictures have been published in major newspapers and magazines worldwide; TIME, The Guardian, La Repubblica, among others. Her works have been exhibited in Europe and China. She is currently with the VII mentorship program.

Among the recognitions and awards, Valentina was selected as one of the 6X6 Europe Talents, by World Press Photo, 2019. The following year, Valentina was the winner of Marilyn Stafford Female in Focus 2020 and she was recognized with the Award of Excellence for Issue Reporting Picture Story in POY 2021.