Women in Afghanistan

Picture Source: http://www.amnesty.org.au/afghanwomen/comments/34283/

The fall of the Taliban made way for significant progress for women’s rights in Afghanistan. There has been increased enrolment of all tiers of formal education, women’s groups have greater access to the Afghan National Assembly and provincial councils, and equal rights are featured more prominently in the Afghan Constitution and official Afghan policy.

However, this progression is endangered, stemming from threats to the current peace and reconciliation between the Taliban, the Afghani government and the US government. Further, even if the progress made is not affected, conditions for women in Afghanistan are still far from ideal.

For example:

Education

Most girls do not attend school for more than six years. Additionally, the number of boys enrolled in the county’s schooling system is significantly higher, nearly doubling girls.

Violence against advocates of women’s education

It is still not uncommon for high profile women’s rights advocates to be targeted and killed in Afghanistan. This violence extends through to female schools – attacks are frequent, showing that violence against women continues to be a significant issue across age groups.

Maternal death

Despite some progress, reflected for example in the increasing life expectancy of women over the last decade, the recorded number of females who die during pregnancy and childbirth is still higher in Afghanistan than almost anywhere else in the world.

ACTION

It is for these reasons that Amnesty International is campaigning both in Australia and globally to advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Fighting for the protection of the rights and safety of women is paramount – we must change the dynamic and mindset to empower and support women in Afghanistan, and throughout the world.

Amnesty International is calling on Australia, the international community and the Afghan Government to ensure women in Afghanistan are central to negotiation and reconciliation processes between the Taliban, the Afghani government and the US government. Women need political representation in order to be empowered to lead changes in their lives, and have their safety and human rights protected.

Afghani women are fighting for a better future; will you help?