Today is International Women’s Day — an annual celebration meant to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Some countries mark it as a national holiday. Here in Afghanistan, government institutions, civil societies, embassies and international organizations honor this event anywhere between March 1-10.
While women have made a modest comeback in Afghanistan regarding education and political participation, the country’s acting Public Health Minister Suraya Dalil told me Afghan women still are lagging in one key area: medical care.
In keeping with the spirit of International Women’s Day, I made a point to talk to as many different Afghan women as I could about their thoughts on women’s rights in Afghanistan. Granted, it’s not easy for an American man to just go up to an Afghan woman on the streets of Kabul and strike up a conversation, and it definitely isn’t easier if you have a microphone. But, I spoke with a few female colleagues and some human rights activists. They all made an interesting point: Why should they support the Afghan government’s policy of seeking reconciliation with the Taliban?
Sima Samar is the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission chairwoman. She says she is concerned because the Taliban violated women’s rights during the years they were in power. She says, “[They] even banned women from access to education, to health care, to work, to movement. [The Taliban] will come back in power and we don’t have any right to say: What?!”
Samar also says it is critical Afghan President Hamid Karzai includes women in a meaningful way during the peace jirga. She says, “What is important is that we have to be [at] the table on the decision-making policy [and] not only in the peace jirga as a piece of decoration.”
What do you think? Will Afghan women play a meaningful role at the peace jirga? And ultimately, will women’s rights be sacrificed if there is reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban?
Watch VOA’s Special Report below on U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement of his new strategy for Afghanistan.
During his speech, President Obama explained the purpose of more troops is to break the Taliban’s momentum in the country and help lay the foundation for transitioning command from the coalition to Afghan security forces.
Mr. Obama also sought to reassure Afghans that the United States has no interest in taking over their country. He said America seeks to isolate those who destroy and strengthen those who build in Afghanistan. Watch my story below to see how Afghans reacted to the U.S. president:
Mr. Obama also had a message for the Afghan government: The time for writing “blank checks” is over. U.S. officials have long warned Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he must address government corruption during his new five-year term. The day before President Obama’s announcement, Afghan lawmaker Daud Sultanzoi told me that he thought the new U.S. strategy is premature.
Mr. Obama also promised that the United States will not abandon the region. He said that ultimately, America wants to be a partner with Afghanistan and not a patron.
The last five days in Kabul were extremely busy. The main story: Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s inauguration. Or more importantly: the promises he made in his inaugural address. Afghanistan’s allies were paying close attention. Watch my television report below for a summary of the speech:
It appears Mr. Karzai is working fast to make good on at least some his promises. Late Sunday, his office issued a decree asking Afghanistan’s High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption to prepare for a national conference within one month. The conference will bring together Afghan government officials, analysts and members of Afghan civil societies to discuss how to combat government corruption.
However, the make-up of this conference does beg the question: How can you find effective ways to combat government corruption when you are inviting government officials to participate? The conference’s findings should be interesting.
Also in his inaugural address, President Karzai reached out to militants without links to international terrorism to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. But following the tightly-guarded inauguration ceremony, it seemed the militants gave their response. Afghan officials said a suicide bomber in the south of the country killed 10 civilians and wounded 13 others. A separate bombing also the same day killed two U.S. soldiers in eastern Zabul province.
President Karzai said it is his goal to have Afghan forces take the lead for all security operations by the end of his new five-year term. Judging by the continued violence, it may be a long five years.
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