The women candidates needed their husbands and family
approval to run for office. Independent female candidates often
lacked money and support for campaigning, unlike those supported by
warlords and political parties. The warlords and their followers
targeted independent women candidates with threats, violence and
even assassination
The warlords also threatened women voters to keep them
from participating in the political process – to stop them from
choosing their future leaders. Women voters received threatening
phone calls, emails and even flyers delivered in the middle of night
that said, “Do not vote or else your husband, your children or you
may lose your life.”
It took much courage to run for office and to go to
vote. In the hidden Afghanistan —one that is not in front of cameras
or UN monitors--exercising one's right is a life or
death choice.
As I weave my life through the two Afghanistans , I
see islands of peace. There is growing stability and political
participation in the areas where there is a strong presence of the
International Security Assistance Forces. But just a few steps away
the local and national government officials are ignoring the status
of women and women's rights when they feel no pressure from the
international community.
In these areas the Constitution and international
norms do not rule. Traditional tribal rule shapes how a woman is
treated and what her rights are—if she has any at all.
I hear the stories from the local communities about
forced and child marriages of girls. Women are not given the choice
in these arrangements. They are considered as property exchanged
between families. Sometimes, daughters and sisters are used to
settle disputes between families.
I also hear stories about domestic violence that is so
severe and women feel they have nowhere to go. They can't go to
authorities because they will be jailed for their complaints against
family members. There are no safe women's shelters outside of Kabul
City .
Last year in a Red Crescent Hospital in Kabul , I met
a young woman who was only 17 years old and three months pregnant.
She suffered such great violence at the hands of her husband and
in-laws that she poured petrol on herself. She died from her petrol
burns.
In this year, there were 75 reported cases of
self-immolation in Herrat City in western Afghanistan alone.
The Poppy Eradication Program and stopping illegal
narcotics trafficking in the country has had a negative impact on
women
Many farmers are awaiting a sustainable alternative to
poppy crops. In the meantime, women are suffering.
Let me explain. Again and again, I hear the story of
poppy farmers who are selling their daughters to repay their debts
to drug traffickers. The forced loss of poppy crops has left farmers
unable to repay drug traffickers who lent money to buy seeds. To
settle their debts, the farmers are turning to traditional Afghan
practice of handing over sisters and daughters.
I urge the international community to support the rule
of law, not the rule of individuals, warlords or fundamentalists in
my country.
There cannot be one Afghanistan for men, another one
for women. Right now 10 percent of the reconstruction money through
the National solidarity program is set aside for local women's
councils, to use for projects identified as women's priorities. Yet,
as I travel to rural areas, I discover that many women councils are
unaware that they should have access to this money. Or when they are
aware, I find that often the men's councils' priorities overtake
that of the women's. Often, women politicians or council members are
used as window dressing, while, the agenda setting is still
dominated by men.
There are also specific needs of women that must be
addressed .
Eighty percent of the female population is illiterate.
We need schools that educate girls as well as women.
One in six Afghan woman dies in childbirth due to the
complication of pregnancy. We need female health professionals and
health clinics to address the basic physical, emotional and
gynecological needs of women.
We need to identify a new generation of Afghan women
leaders and give them tools and resources to develop their
potential. So when women candidates run for office, they do not need
to rely on money from warlords and fundamentalists but can be
successful independent candidates.
However, I have heard from the Ministry of Women's
Affairs that we can not train Women for Women International's
participants about the CEDAW, which Afghanistan ratified in 2004. We
were told to wait until the Ministry of Justice and a council of
Islamic judges approves CEDAW.
There is an unfinished agenda for Afghan women.
Presidential and parliamentary elections are good markers for
progress, but Peace and security in Afghanistan will take a long
term commitment by the United Nations and the International Security
Assistance Forces.
We urge that the Security Council to consider
extending the mandate of ISAF and expanding its work throughout
Afghanistan . The continued insecurity also undermines the safety
and progress of women.
We urge that the Security Council and international
organizations such as UNIFEM to support Afghan authorities and
women's groups in the peace-building in Afghanistan . We should have
a full partnership that develops the capacity of women and protects
their human rights.
We urge the Security Council and international
community to fully implement alterative livelihood initiatives for
farmers in the Poppy Eradication Program.
We recommend that the United Nations and international
community work with the Afghan judicial system so judges, police,
and local leaders rely on the rule of law, not traditional laws that
undermine women's rights.
Lastly, I recommend that the Security Council and
international community promote civil society especially women's
groups to help keep the government accountable.
We do not want the international community to abandon
Afghanistan before we have secured a stable future for all women,
men and children. Peace-building in Afghanistan must continue.
We need women. We cannot ignore women when rebuilding
a nation. As long as you leave women behind, there will be no peace.
Afghanistan will continue to be weak.
Let me end by saying without strong women, we cannot
build a strong nation.
Thank you for your attention.