I. Background


Together with the European Women's Lobby, Equality Now, the Center for Strategic Initiatives of Women, and the Feminist Majority, V-Day served as one of the Co-conveners of the Afghan Women's Summit held in Brussels in December 2001. The Summit provided a forum for Afghan women in the Diaspora from all areas of the world, including Pakistan, Iran, the Central Asian Republics, the United States, Canada and Europe and from different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds and also Afghan women from within Afghanistan. Afghan women leaders from around the world gathered to create a working dialogue on the role of women in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Hosted in Brussels, December 4-5 at the European Commission, the prime focus of the Summit was to introduce the voices of Afghan women into the current international political discourse with officials from the European Union, United Nations, and women's rights activists from around the world, including the three women delegates to the concurrent Bonn meeting: Seddighe Balkhi, leader of the Afghan Women's Political and Cultural Activities Center in Iran, Northern Alliance representative Amina Afzali, an Iran-based activist, and Sima Wali, president and CEO of Refugee Women in Development and coordinator for the Afghan Women's Summit.



As a result of the Summit, the women drafted the Brussels Proclamation addressing women's issues in Afghanistan, including recommendations for health, education, media, literature, human rights, etc. (http://www.vday.org/brussels)



II. Roundtable Discussions


To follow up with the women who participated in the Summit, and to extend its mission, V-Day held roundtable discussions in Kabul for two days in March 2002. Goals included finding out what the participants had accomplished since the Summit, determining the current condition of the participants' home countries, developing new partnerships, and finding ways to support ending violence against women in Afghanistan. We consulted a range of people to form the list of participants, as one of our key goals was to assemble a diverse group with diverse perspectives. The only non-Afghan participants at the roundtable discussions were Eve Ensler and Hibaaq Osman of V-Day, and Jessica Neuwirth of Equality Now.



We expected only forty participants to attend, and ended up with eighty-four participants present at the discussions. Participants were from diverse backgrounds including lawyers, judges, doctors, teachers, professors, NGO workers, and professionals. Several participants traveled from Herat, Mazar-e-Sherif, Balkh, and Peshawar. (These women had to travel with a male relative, because of continuing prohibitions on women traveling alone.)



Objective

The objective of our visit was threefold. First, to provide a forum for Afghan women to meet and address important issues; second to identify women's organizations that could be engaged in the battle of ending violence against women; and third, to join in the historic celebration of International Women's Day (the first such celebration in Afghanistan in five years).



We went into the roundtable discussions with open minds with the intent of developing strategies to build on what has already been taking place, rather than developing new strategies. Our role was very clear as observers and listeners, and as such we held discussions and interviews with the Afghan women. V-Day was very clear in its intent that the discussions were for Afghan women, by Afghan women. The participants came up with their own agenda identifying the problems present in Afghanistan on which they would like to focus. They determined that health, security (including political and human rights), and education were the most imperative issues and came up with recommendations and specific projects to address these issues. The discussions began with the first two hours primarily dedicated to an open forum where women talked about themselves, their activities since the Summit, and their vision for women's human rights.



First Impressions


On our recent trip to Afghanistan, we found a changed atmosphere, much different from the Taliban's Afghanistan. We were honored to be a part of the first International Women's Day celebration in five years. We witnessed the excitement and wonderment of people scurrying into newly erected beauty shops and video stores, the expression of pure elation of the faces of children as they flew kites for the first time, and the magic of watching music reach the ears of those who have been thirsty for its sound for years. However, we found that this joy and wonderment masks the deep and painful wounds inflicted by the Taliban under the regime, wounds that could not be healed simply through the reintroduction of music or kites. The healing and rebuilding process will begin when we acknowledge and examine the way in which women's lives were stripped from them under the Taliban and develop effective mechanisms for giving them the means to rebuild their lives and regain their positions as equal productive members of society, inside and outside of the home.



Social Conditions


Since the beginning of the Taliban rule in September of 1996, the Taliban achieved complete and total domination and control by stripping women of all their rights and leaving them powerless, voiceless, and invisible. Women were not permitted to work or go to school, and were forced to abandon their previous roles in society and retreat into their homes. Women could not leave the house without a male relative, and they could not emerge unless completely covered by the Burqa, which completely hid their identities. Their worth as productive, working members of society diminished and was replaced by a single avenue for contributing to society: as producers of offspring.



Social and Economic Hardship


The social and economic hardship that erupted as a result of this restrictive treatment had a devastating impact on women's lives. Although left with no economic power or earning ability, women were often forced to act as sole-breadwinners after losing their husbands and male family members to Taliban-inflicted violence. As a result of their lack of resources, women were left with no way to feed their families or support themselves. Basically, women were encouraged to produce children, and then left with no means to support them, forcing them to beg in the streets with their children. Additionally, many destitute families were coerced into selling their children.



Many assume that with the fall of the Taliban many of the social and economic ills have magically disappeared. Sadly, many of these problems persist . Although women are now free to work and go to school, and sometimes leave their home without a male escort, many women face societal obstacles in embracing these changes. Because women have been oppressed by fear for such a long period of time, many are afraid to go out in public alone, or without their Burqas. When we approached women in public and asked them why they continued to hide themselves when they were not required by law to do so anymore, they replied that they were scared, did not feel safe, and were skeptical about the prospects of future stability.



In fact, many women face more danger and violence since the fall of the Taliban than they did under the regime. During our meetings in Kabul some of the women told horrific accounts of beatings they experienced by their husbands. Many claimed that it was worse now than before the fall of the Taliban, and the problems were getting worse. We heard reports from Mazar-e-Sherif of women being targeted as wives of the Taliban or Al Qeada by armed men from the Northern Alliance and repeatedly raped. There was a case in Herat where a family's home was invaded by the Northern Alliance, and a sixteenyear old family member who was left behind fell victim to repeated rapes by Northern Alliance soldiers, while her family stood powerless nearby listening to her cries.



Health


In addition to the social and economic hardships that plague women's lives, women also face great hardship in all other facets of everyday life, including health care. The current state of health in Afghanistan ranks among the poorest globally. The infrastructure of health care facilities is in ruin as a result of the longstanding political upheaval, and present facilities lack the equipment and technology necessary to provide adequate health care. The severe shortage of medicine exacerbates the incidents of maternal and infant mortality and both infants and mothers die from treatable diseases at a high rate simply because of the lack of resources available for treatment.



In addition to these pressing fundamental health care issues, women in our round table discussions expressed the desire for expanded family planning services. They also identified the need for psychological services and mental health care. Women have been so traumatized by years of oppression and brutality under the Taliban, including the loss of their husbands and/or other family members, and there is a lack of professional expertise to deal with women's psychological rehabilitation. Women we spoke to admitted that many women cope by relying on tranquilizers that they obtain from bazaars to deal with the painful reality of their lives. We also heard stories of women who attempted suicide, sometimes succeeding.



Food Security


We were told by health workers that poverty infiltrates every aspect of society in Afghanistan and is extremely far-reaching. We were told over 70% of people in Kabul have severe malnutrition. Over 30% of children in northern Afghanistan are also suffering from malnutrition, according to surveys taken by international food agencies. Even if people could afford to feed their families, which they cannot, there is a general shortage of food.



Education


The role of children also plays a fundamental part in rebuilding Afghanistan. We learned that boys and girls alike are skeptical about the new leadership because the leadership they have witnessed thus far has brought nothing but oppression, brutality, and devastation. Many children are deeply concerned about their future because of the devastating poverty. They believe they will end up working to support their families, as most of their parents have no means of income. However, though many children are discouraged about their futures, as many are optimistic about the future. Children, especially girls, are enthusiastic about being able to go to school and pursue careers in all areas. Women's roles in the area of education is extremely critical because they constituted 70% of teachers before the Taliban.



Security


Many people told stories of robberies, burglaries, violent deaths, and the fact that there are so many guns in the city. There is much tension within Kabul, and women do not feel safe walking in public. There is an incredible need to increase security by international security forces, as Afghanistan has been unable internally to provide security to the people. This is also complicated by the presence of intelligence forces on the ground. People told of the increased presence of U.S. and Russian forces and the increase in arms that accompany these troops. This has made people feel incredibly insecure and has caused them to dig up the arms that were buried by the former Mujehediin under the Taliban.



II. Analysis


Strengths


There are many strong women in Afghanistan, women like Soraya Perlika, who is the head of the Afghan Women's Union. She is an articulate woman and has a highly recognized name. During the International Women's Day celebrations, she marched to downtown Kabul. There are two other women in the Loya Jurga who are equally strong and articulate. Fortunately, there are many women who can mobilize to end violence against women, including strong lawyers and judges. There are quite a number of women in the Afghan Human Rights Commission that has just been set up, in addition to the Women's Ministry, which has also been recently established.



Weaknesses


In order to institutionalize women's rights, strong women's institutions must be present. Currently, there are no strong women's institutions. Organizing among women is hampered by a lack of coordination, trust, and resources. After 23 years of war, ethnic tension, class struggles, and conflicting social affiliations with factions of former governments, women must work to overcome feelings of mutual resentment, blame, and mistrust. Women who remained in Afghanistan or among the refugees must be reconciled with women of the Diaspora. All women have experienced the loss of close relatives and property. Additionally, women are ill equipped to reenter the work force because they have been absent from the work force and schools for so long and are lacking the appropriate skills necessary for work.



Opportunities


In December when the interim government took over, women were invited back to their jobs, ministries, schools, universities, etc. After five years of women being forced to stay in the home, women showed up to their former employer's offices with their spirits strong. In V-Day's roundtable discussion, we invited 40 women and 84 showed up, which was very encouraging. Among those, we invited six women from different parts of the country and were fortunate to have 10 show up. These women are conscious of what it means to be without liberty and have suffered much loss. They are therefore very protective of the freedom that they have now. For example, women appreciate the choice they have recently been given as to whether or not to wear the Burqa, rather than having it forced upon them. Currently there is a window of opportunity for women and now is the time to take advantage of government support and international support of women's rights in Afghanistan to end the violence against women and promote women's rights.



Threats


The Taliban regime may have dissipated, but Taliban culture is still everywhere. There is still much anti-women sentiment among many, including political leaders. We were told in our Round Table Discussions that women in Herat wanted to have a women's meeting but were not allowed to by the government. When women in Kabul wanted to celebrate Women's Day, the head of the high court in Kabul would not allow them. Additionally, women were the target of rapes in Balkh and Herat allegedly because they were Al Qeada and Taliban wives. Many expressed that international forces have increased the presence of arms in Kabul, causing Afghans to dig up weapons that were buried by the former Mujehediin during the Taliban regime. This has made Kabul become insecure and unstable.



III. Outcomes


Meeting with the Minister of Women's Affairs


Eve Ensler and Hibaaq Osman of V-Day and Jessica Neuwirth of Equality Now, together with Adeena Niazi, met with Dr. Sima Samar, the Minister of Women's Affairs, to discuss ways of helping and supporting the women's ministry. The meeting was frank and productive. A central topic of discussion was whether women could seize this moment to make rapid strides towards reclaiming their rights, as many participants in the roundtable felt, or whether the process would better be accomplished through gradual, persistent efforts. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for disbursement of the funds committed for reconstruction of Afghanistan at the international donors' meeting in Tokyo in January, as well as the urgent need for security and expansion of the international force.



V-Day Funding and Actions


V-Day took several actions and made several funding commitments during the Kabul visit.



V-Day funding has been focused on supporting grassroots work of women and women's organizations working to end violence against women, to provide educational opportunities that will change the context giving rise to violence against women, to support the growth and interaction of women's groups, and to provide basic services such as health care and psychological counseling.



At the request of the Minister, V-Day has agreed to help redevelop a park for women in Kabul and to donate funding to make this possible. We are in preliminary discussions and are looking forward to seeing the Minister's plan for the park. The park, a large walled ground in Kabul, had been a park for women and children, where cultural events took place and women came together in a safe, protected environment. The park has been virtually destroyed by war. By rebuilding the park we offer a safe haven for women to meet in community.



A large number of small grants were given for a range of purposes, such as support for schools, for technology infrastructure, and for programs to document the conditions of women throughout the country.



V-Day provided 15 satellite telephones with prepaid air time to key women leaders in a variety fields: politicians, human rights, etc. (One of the recipients was Sima Samar, who was still in need of resources.) We left a plan for them to call us at least once a month to report on conditions and maintain a dialogue between us.
Key Issues Raised by Participants



The roundtable discussions endorsed the Brussels Proclamation adopted by the Afghan Women's Summit for Democracy in December and focused on issues in three areas: Education, Security, and Health. The key issues are summarized below:



Education


Problems

• Shortage of educational materials, and equipment.
• Lack of facilities and disrepair in educational facilities.
• Lack of security in the educational environment.
• Shortage of trained teachers, and funds to support living wages for teachers.
• Low levels of literacy and education, particularly among girls.
• Lack of student interest in education in recent years.
• Lack of scholarships for talented students.
• Lack of night schools for male and female students.
• Need for English language in the school's curriculum.
• Shortage of facilities for young children.

Recommendations

• Institute teacher training.
• Ensure living wages for teachers.
• Provide tuition for school students.
• Repair and construct schools and kindergartens.
• Provide teaching materials.
• Provide uniforms for students.
• Provide sufficient food for children.
• Provide health centers in school compounds.
• Provide vocational training after school hours, and secure night schools for females.
• Teach English as second language from fourth grade.
• Establish a cultural association for Afghan youth.
• Provide sports fields and entertainment equipment for the students in the schools.

Health


Problems

• Physical, social and psychological problems throughout the population due to prolonged war and social instability.
• Lack of family planning and family planning materials.
• Lack of information on healthcare for women and children.
• Malnutrition among the children.
• Anemia among women.
• Limitations of the Mother and Child Health clinics (MCH).
• Mortality and morbidity among children and pregnant women.
• Family and social problems.
• Disabilities due to war.
• Presence of endemic diseases such as leishmania, malaria and TB.
• Usage of expired medicines.
• Lack of professional personnel and medical equipment.

Recommendations

• Training for professional family planning services.
• Serious attention to feeding mothers and children and treatment of anemia.
• Supporting general health literacy among women through media and films.
• Expanding MCH clinics throughout Afghanistan.
• Provision of medical equipment and adequate medicines.
• Serious controls on importing of expired drugs and low quality medicines.
• Psychological services for mothers and children emerging from war, and establishment of training centers for their treatment.
• Wide attention and assistance for disabled people.
• Provision of scholarships for medical staff.
• Reactivating of UNICEF programs.
• Inclusion of psychology as a subject in all medical training.
• Inclusion of health and anatomy in all student curricula.

Security


Problems

• Widespread presence of weapons.
• Influence of warlords.
• Poverty and illiteracy.
• Propaganda against women's freedom.
• Smuggling of drugs and cultivation of opium.
• Lack of respect for law and regard for social justice.
• Interference of foreign countries and cultures.
• Marginalizing of children and women.
• Violence within the family.

Recommendations

• Demilitarization, controls on weapons imports, and an increase of peacekeepers.
• Prevention of gangs and political bands.
• Improvement of family economy and provision of job opportunities especially for women and non-professionals.
• Inclusion of human rights in school curriculum.
• Demining of agricultural land.
• Prevention of drug trade and cultivation of opium
• Prevention of blackmailing and hostage-taking.
• Control of borders.
• Support for the repatriation process.

Conclusion


The future of Afghanistan is dependent on our ability to address these issues and provide the necessary services to rehabilitate, re-socialize, and empower Afghan women. As we have seen, it is not sufficient to allow women to shed their Burqas in public, but we must help to re-shape societal institutions so that women can release the fear and apprehension they have been hoarding. In addition to changing the laws and assigning women more rights, women must be given the tools to take full advantage of these rights, including means for re-entrance to the work force, access to health care and mental health care services, access to proper nourishment for their families, etc. It is not enough to allow women to re-enter society; social institutions must embrace the participation of woman as well.



return to afghanistan is everywhere