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http://www.bookdepository.com/Hanging-by-Thread-Dr-Massouda-Jalal/9780991420919

HANGING BY A THREAD: AFGHAN WOMEN’S RIGHTS & SECURITY THREATS

By Dr. Massouda Jalal  &  Dr. Mario Silva

Introduction to the Chapters

More than a decade after the Taliban were ousted from power, Afghans' rights and security are at  crossroads, and women’s rights hang by a thread. Two former political authorities offer an update on opportunities and dangers facing the international community as Operation Enduring Freedom winds down. Dr. Jalal, a former minister in the Karzai government, asks the important questions and delivers informed insights on the history of women’s struggle in Afghanistan and the dangers posed by the ongoing negotiations with the Taliban. In Part II, Dr. Silva, a former member of the Canadian Parliament, addresses the continuing dilemma of security, state failure, and terrorism, and the structures and supports that must be in place following the international military withdrawal.

The book Hanging by a Thread, an initiative to raise the voices of Afghan women in the current political situation of the country, considering that their positions were not truly considered in the processes of defining the government’s peace and reintegration strategy. Its introduction identifies and explains the main reasons why the framework of the government’s peace process with the Taliban is not acceptable to women. It also explains why Afghan women continue to be marginalized in society and in national political processes. The introduction recognizes that there were considerable gains on women’s rights in the past decade, but also raises concern about the sustainability of those gains, given the on-going return of the Taliban and their anti-women ideology in mainstream society. 

Chapter 1: The History of Women’s Struggle in Afghanistan provides an analysis of how the status of Afghan women evolved through history. Mentioning the heroism of Malalai during the battle of Maiwand, the chapter cites the efforts of various regimes to advance women’s status in Afghan society. Among the national leaders who left behind positive legacies for women were: (1) Abdur Rahman Khan(1880-91) who gave  women the right to divorce, raised the age of marriage for girls, abolished forced marriage of widows to their husband’s brother, and granted women’s right to inheritance; (2) Habibullah Khan(1901-1919) who opened schools for girls; (3) King Amanullah(1919-29) who discouraged polygamy and keeping women veiled or in closed doors; pushed for women’s unity and activism;built a hospital for women; gave women the right to marry a partner of their choice; prohibited bride price, raised the age of marriage for girls to 18, and abolished polygamy; (4) Mohammed Zahir Shah (1933-73), who established a secondary school for girls; encouraged women’s participation in work and politics;allowed women to appear in public without veil; gave women the right to vote; and supported campaigns against forced marriages, bride pricing and women’s illiteracy; (5) Mohammad Daoud Khan (1973-78) who promoted mass literacy, issued a decree for girls’ compulsory education; and totally abolished the bride price; and (6) Burhanuddin Rabbani(1992-96) who supported women’s participation in work, education, civil service and politics. 

All of the above gains on women’s rights were taken away by the Taliban, during whose reign, women were mandated to have a mahram(male relative escort) and prevented from wearing make-up and high-heeled shoes, speaking loudly, appearing in balconies, riding bicycles or motorcycles, appearing in media, being photographed or filmed, going to shops and private homes, visiting male doctor, and going to school.  The era of peace and reconstruction (2001-present) restored women’s rights. Equality was enshrined in the Constitution; women returned to schools, work, politics and public life; mechanisms and policies promoting women’s advancement were institutionalized; violence against women was outlawed; and women’s organizations and activism flourished.

Chapter 2: Human Rights provides an analysis of what violation of women’s human rights in Afghanistan is all about. It encourages Afghan readers to reflect on their thought and value systems and reject those that sustain talibanist ideologies. The chapter also showed the depth and breadth of human rights abuses against women (especially to widows, wives and girl brides) and raised recommendations on how Afghan people and institutions could help eradicate them in the contexts of their lives. Likewise, the chapter takes a look at the participation of women in government/civil service and the obstacles faced by women and girls in accessing their right to education and health. Lastly, an encapsulation of the experiences of women who survived human rights abuses were presented to give a human face to the pervasiveness of women-directed violations of human rights in the country.

Chapter 3: Marriage Practices and Abuses discusses marriage practices and policies in the country and how they negatively affect women’s status, especially in real life. It examines the practice of forced marriages and the options taken by women to avoid it, or to escape maltreatment from their spouses and in laws. The chapter cites the inability of government mechanisms to secure women and uphold their rights, often resulting in the unjust incarceration of the women victims. It also examines the negative impacts of traditional betrothal practices such as baad (giving away of a female family member for marriage to appease an offended family), pre-arranged marriage, divorce, and pertinent provisions of the Shia Personal Status Law.

Chapter 4: Burqa and Chador traces the origin of the practice of wearing the burqa and the significance of the chadari. The chapter acknowledges that the fundamentalist ideology and thoughts are male-dominated and the lack of feminist perspectives is the main reason why they tend to be biased against women. It warns readers that unless women’s voices are heard, there is a great danger that the gains on women’s rights could be clawed back after the drawdown of international support to Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

Chapter 5: The Taliban’s On-going War on Women points out the need to recognize that the Taliban ideology remains a threat to women’s rights. It calls attention to the barbaric practices of extrajudicial killings such as stoning to death and hanging of women who are suspected of bringing dishonor to their family and society, as well as the helplessness of government to prosecute the perpetrators.  The chapter also brings into focus the use of children as suicide bombers and the need to take immediate action to stop the recruitment of children for terroristic activities.

Chapter 6: Towards Enduring Peace, Democracy and Gender Equality is a call to action to promote sustainable peace with due consideration of women’s positions and perspectives. It provides an enlightening analysis of how women’s oppression is used as a core tactic in sustaining the Taliban’s stronghold in the minds of the people. The chapter concludes by raising recommendations for consideration by government, the international community and the Afghan people. The recommendations include continuing engagement of the international community in the peace process with attention to women’s rights, reexamination of the framework of the peace process to incorporate women’s recommendations and perspectives, mobilizing support toward non-traditional political leaders, continuing capacity development of the law-enforcers and justice personnel, linking of international resources with concrete deliverables on women’s rights, support to women’s human rights’ watch, mass education on women’s human rights, targeted services to the most vulnerable women,  better governance, and moratorium on the amendment or repeal of gender sensitive policies and laws.

The book concludes with a personal appeal of the Author for united activism around the recommendations raised in Chapter 6 and a reiteration of commitment to continue the advocacy for attention to women’s rights in the pursuit of enduring peace.