Five Years on, Conditions for Women in Afghanistan still Poor

[MiaCulpa]

Late in 2001, after the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and the opening of that country's doors to the international community, the treatment of Afghan women almost overnight became a cause célèbre throughout the world. Organizations flocked to Kabul to open offices and begin projects aimed at the needs of women.

U.S. coalition troops moved into southern Afghanistan, and NATO countries offered the services of thousands more troops, who were deployed to provide national security. During this time in 2001, the opportunity was present to found a lasting peace in a nation that had suffered nearly a quarter of a century of violent conflict.

Women's rights were at the forefront of discussions of a new form of government for Afghanistan, and an amazing 102 female delegates participated in the Constitution Loya Jirga of December 2003. It appeared that progress was being made and women were occupying central roles in the country's political life.

However, according to a new report released by Womankind Worldwide, "paper rights have not equalled rights in practice," and we have failed to fully realize the opportunity we had in 2001 for fostering a lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The facts and statistics presented about the status of women's rights in Afghanistan five years on are staggering:

*

Since 2001, at a conservative estimate, there have been 273,648 Afghan civilian deaths as a result of the war, with thousands more wounded.
*

In Sept.'06, Safia Amajan -- the head of the Department of Women's Affairs -- was shot dead outside her home in Khandahar by two men on a motorbike.
*

There has been at least one verified case of a woman stoned to death by her community, twenty-nine year old "Amina," who died by stoning in Badakhashan Province in May 2005.
*

70-85% of women in Afghanistan remain unaware of the rights afforded to women in Islam.
*

It is estimated that between 60-80% of all marriages are forced, with 57% of girls married before the age of 16 and some as young as 6 years old. Many more, if not married during their childhood, are betrothed without their consent or knowledge.
*

Still ongoing is the tribal practice of "baad," the exchange of girls or women as restitution for a crime or debt.

More here:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Five_years_on_conditions_for_women_1115.html

[liberalsoldier5]

1. It's a shame.

Especially since that's the place where our full presence and resources should be. Like Nancy said, we're barely even fighting the war on terror while we're in Iraq. It's embarassing.