Economic and Social Council       Distr.: General

                                                                                                                                                                5 December

2005

                                                                                                                                                                Original: English

Fiftieth session

27 February – 10 March 2006

Item 3 of the provisional agenda

Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and

to the special session of the General Assembly entitled

“Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for

the twenty-first century”

Advance Unedited Version

The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan∗

Summary

The present report provides an update of the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan in 2005, in response to Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/8, with particular focus on the electoral process, efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls, social and economic reconstruction and rehabilitation. It includes information on activities undertaken by the United Nations system in support of the Afghan Government’s work towards the advancement of women and gender equality. While significant gains have been made by Afghan women and girls, including in the legal, political and educational areas, progress is not felt in all parts of the country and the gender development indicators remain among the worst in the world. Continuous and wide-spread incidents of human rights violations and violence against women call for prompt and enhanced action by the Afghan government and the international community.

∗ The submission of the present report was delayed due to the need for further consultations with relevant

United Nations entities.

 

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