WHY AFGHANISTAN?

One of the poorest countries in the world

More than 20 years of armed conflict has devastated much of Afghanistan, creating what is now one of the poorest countries in the world. The deteriorating security situation and collapse of state infrastructure has left large sections of the population without access to basic services. Most do not have sufficient food, water or even shelter while an estimated 60-80% of the country’s people live on less than 1US$ a day. Serious human rights violations, substantial environmental damage and large-scale displacement of people also contribute to Afghanistan’s growing poverty and insecurity.

And it is women who have suffered the most, particularly under the discriminatory repression of the Taliban.

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A disproportionate suffering - women’s position in Afghan society.

The formation of the Afghan Interim Government has seen some gradual progress towards women’s rights and freedoms.  Two of the 30 government members are women and in March 2003 the Afghan authorities ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The country’s new Constitution recognises that men and women are equal in law and gives women the right to vote.

However, a powerful combination of traditional custom and rigid interpretation of Islamic (Shari’a) Law, continues to place serious and substantial restrictions on women’s human and civil rights, their ability to move freely in society and to play their part in decision making within their families, their communities and their country.

The widely accepted cultural concept of Purdah for example, defines men and women by the social spaces they occupy. Men are allowed the public sphere whilst women are expected to remain within the private, domestic realm. Enforcing strict conformity to such a concept hampers women’s physical freedom, as well as their access to basic healthcare, education and economic resources, particularly in rural areas. As a result, women’s ability to take a full and active part in civil and political affairs is severely restricted – both at grassroots and national level.

Religious law – Shari’a – exerts considerable influence on Afghanistan’s civil law, particularly in matters concerning marriage and divorce. This is often to the detriment of women, particularly where too-rigid an interpretation combines with deeply-entrenched custom, tradition and values. Women seeking divorce, even from highly abusive partners, or those who attempt to move beyond ascribed roles, behaviours and social spaces, frequently face ostracism and punishment from their husbands, families and communities.

Violence against women

Discrimination and violence against women is often legitimised by traditional laws in many parts of the country, particularly when these involve Zina Crimes: adultery, sex outside of marriage or elopement.   Women accused of such ‘crimes’ are liable not only to prosecution but are at risk of being killed by their families, whose honour is felt to be irreparably harmed by the woman’s actions.

Violence against women is widespread in Afghanistan and takes many forms:

Too often the perpetrators remain unpunished. Women who are victims of rape for example, are seriously discriminated against under traditional law which requires the women to prove that the act was against her will.  Since this is usually impossible, it is she, the victim, who will be harshly prosecuted. Without full civil and political participation, women become further victimised by a criminal justice system which rarely prosecutes in cases of violence against women. A system which provides no effective protection for women and girls and which itself can subject women to further discrimination and abuse.

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