WUNRN
PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST
WIDOWS IN AFGHANISTAN
By Dr. Massouda Jalal
Founding
Chairperson of Jalal Foundation
and Former
Minister of Women, Afghanistan
The long
years of armed conflict in Afghanistan left behind some 600,000 to two million
widows[1][1]. In a highly
patriarchal culture that embraces Islamic fundamentalism, the so-called “women
without protectors” like widows are at least five times more vulnerable to
sexual violence. Sexual violence against them stems from thwarting their claim
to inheritance, economic desperation, and loss of social identity.[2][2] A widow who
continues to live with her husband’s family is highly prone to sexual abuse by
its male members and could get forced into prostitution by female in-laws. Widows are unaware of legal and welfare
options. They usually do not report sexual violence because they are likely to
get incarcerated or murdered by their in-laws. Besides, the police and justice
system are notorious for incompetence and lack of gender awareness in handling
sexual violence cases. Very little is known about sexual violence against
widows. A research on the subject is necessary to provide evidence for policy
and action. To prevent sexual violence against widows, the following could be
considered:
a) The new government of Afghanistan
should very seriously implement the EVAW decree. It should prosecute a high
profile offender to demonstrate its political will. The new President should
run a 60-second advertisement every hour for one year, declaring that violence
against women is unlawful and offenders will be harshly prosecuted under his
term;
b) A respectable reparation program
for families of war widows should be considered to give them economic capital
to start a new life. The package should include lump sum, scholarship
privileges through college, food aid and higher monthly pension. Economic
empowerment (through jobs for widows or their able children) will reduce their
vulnerability to sexual violence. The
right of women, especially widows, to inheritance should be upheld and
protected under the law.
c) Community leaders and community
police should be given enough power to intervene any time to prevent sexual
violence or rescue potential/actual victims.
EVAW prevention and rescue teams should be created in communities
especially in areas with no police presence.
d) The UN Special Rapporteur on
Violence against Women should initiate an analytical study on the situation of
war widows (or widows in situations of armed conflict), including Afghanistan,
and based on its findings, call upon concerned governments to take actions that
will, among others, eliminate violence against widows and the members of their
family. The implementation of actions to
be taken should be strictly monitored by CEDAW during the reporting by State
Parties.
[1][1] This is one of the highest in the world when analyzed against the overall number of Afghan females falling within the reproductive age bracket of 15 to 49 years old.
[2][2] A woman’s social identity in Afghanistan is attached to being a wife, a daughter or a sister. Without a husband, a widow exists without a social identity.