Afghan women's rights are paper thin

'A long way lies ahead of us before our citizens can become truly equal'

In today's Afghanistan, two types of problems must be urgently addressed. The first is security, which is barely guaranteed in Kabul and is completely lacking in numerous provinces. The second concerns the condition of women; there are social, political and cultural barriers that must be torn down if a real parity is to be achieved."
Adeena Niazi is executive director of the Afghan Women Counselling & Integration Community Support Organization, an association that helps Afghan women to integrate in Ontario and, at the same time, acts as a bridge linking the Afghan community of our province with its country of origin. In the past two years, the tragedy of Afghanistan has been upstaged by the war in Iraq, but, as Niazi remarks, "our country is going through a period of great instability."
Recently, Afghanistan suffered yet another bloody day: a Taleban attack killed five in Kandahar on the day of a visit to Kabul by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "The Afghan population needs security," says Niazi. "The latest events are just more proof of this fact. There are provinces where the situation is really beyond control: Taleban guerrillas are still around, and the usurped power of the local warlords prevents the application of the rule of law. If my people could express a wish, undoubtedly it would be for more security. Everything else would be secondary."
Close to four years after the American invasion and the fall of the Taleban regime, the objective of a fully democratic Afghanistan has yet to be achieved. Last month, a new postponement of elections, from May to September, was announced. "Paradoxically, this is good news," adds Niazi, "because I don't believe that right now the conditions required for truly free elections exist. But I am highly doubtful that this will change by September. Many issues need to be addressed to improve general conditions of life, such as the condition of women, the respect of rights, health care, education, economic uncertainty."
The future is as uncertain as ever. At present, about 17,000 American troops are stationed in Afghanistan, as well as the ISAF contingent that includes 700 Canadians. Over the past four years, the goal of crushing the Taleban resistance has not been met. In some areas of the country, especially those bordering on Pakistan, the pockets of followers of the Mullah Omar are increasingly bold. "The political strategy followed by the U.S. authorities in these four years," continues Niazi, "has always been marred by a grave mistake that is being paid for by the Afghan people in the fight against the Talebans. The Americans enlisted the main warlords of many provinces, giving them weaponry and American money. But the warlords did very little about the Talebans, as they were more interested in furthering their own personal political and economic ends. Today's great instability all over our country is fuelled also by this fragmentation."
Afghanis continue to live with the lacerations of social fabric brought about by the Taleban regime. The condition of women, confirms Niazi, is the real benchmark for a nation that in the past 30 years has known regime changes, dictatorships, civil wars and foreign invasions. "Sure, from a legal standpoint the condition of women has completely changed.
"Laws have been passed to protect our rights," Niazi continues, "many limitations have been lifted for Afghan women. The Constitution that came in force on January 4, 2004, proclaims parity between men and women. But reality is something else. On paper things have changed, yet in everyday life Afghan women continue to be abused, their rights trampled on. Establishing general principles is not hard; troubles begin when these grand ideas must be applied. A long way lies ahead of us before our citizens can become truly equal."
Yet, even amid these difficulties, Afghans are ready to raise their heads. The first step could be the vote next September, when the population will be called upon to elect the members of the national Parliament and the representatives of local legislatures. Another step will be taken when the government, led by President Hamid Karzai, will be able to stand on its own legs, furthering the interests of all Afghans above those of the United States. "I believe in a different future for Afghanistan," concludes Niazi, "where at long last our people will live in liberty, led by fully democratic institutions, and the rights of women will be respected."

Publication Date: 2005-04-03
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=5067