Source:

After threats and attacks already 6 schools for girls closed [ID 1349]

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Despite progresses in the realization of gender equality, women and girls continue to suffer from low social, economic and political status; only 12,6 percent of women are literate and school attendance of girls dropped due to attacks on schools ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22664]

"Progress in the realization of gender equality remains, however, an uphill struggle as legal and social discrimination are deep-rooted, insecurity grows, and customary practices prevail. Afghan women and girls continue to suffer extremely low social, economic and political status. Chronically poor women are one of the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan. Due to the culture and tradition, some means of social intervention (e.g. training, education, etc.) to support vulnerable women prove to be very difficult. Despite tremendous progress, the gender gap remains high. Only 12.6 percent of female adults are literate and a very small percentage of them is employed. Afghan women rank among the world’s worst off group by significant human development indicators: life expectancy is 42 years; maternal mortality as high as 1,600 deaths per 100,000 births; and literacy is as low as 14 percent for women 15 and older. While the number of girls in school increased quickly after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, only 37 percent of school-age girls were in school in 2006, as the violence directed at schools in 2005 and 2006 affected school attendance by girls particularly hard."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Literacy rate is estimated at 28 percent; despite the success of the UNICEF “Back to School” campaign (started in 2002), an estimated 2 million children (therefrom 1.2 million girls) are currently not attending school ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22749]

"Afghanistan’s literacy rate is one of the lowest among developing countries. The average adult literacy rate is estimated at 28 percent of the overall population; female literacy rate is 12.6 percent. The Taliban exclusion of girls from school during 1995-2001 worsened the gender disparity in literacy. The UNICEF “Back to School” campaign – started in 2002 – has seen more than three million students return to school and enrolment in schools has continuously increased. Currently, 5.1 million children are attending schools. Of this number, about 4.5 million children are in primary school (1.53 million of them are girls). Thirty-seven percent of girls between the ages of 7 and 12 are attending school for the first time. Despite the relative success of the “Back to School” campaign, an estimated 2 million children are currently not attending school; 1.2 million of these are girls."

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Negative parental attitudes and security concerns are the main reasons for low school attendance rates of girls; lack of qualified female teachers ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22750]

"The main causes of low attendance rates for girls are the inadequate number of formal schools or qualified teachers, the lack of physical accessibility of schools due to security concerns (e.g. attacks or abductions) and negative parental attitudes regarding girls’ education. In addition, early marriage is a significant factor in the high drop-out rates for girls. An AIHRC study has found that the proportion of girls who fail to complete primary education is almost half the rate of boys’ completion. To address one of the obstacles to girls’ school attendance, the Ministry of Education is training a pool of female teachers and is offering land and housing incentives for deployment of female teachers to areas in which there is a lack of qualified female teachers."

Document(s): Open document

11.2007 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Threats and attacks on female teachers, girl’s schools and on families who send their girls to school ("11th European Country of Origin Information Seminar; Vienna, 21 - 22 June 2007; Country Report; Afghanistan") [ID 21959]

"Due to security situation, schools remain inaccessible in many parts of the country. There are continuous threats and attacks on female teachers, girl’s schools and on families who send their girls to school. In a Tajik valley at a 30 minutes distance from Kabul, no girl is allowed to attend school."

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

According to UNICEF, half of girls are not attending school because their parents fear for their safety; at least 30 attacks on schools in past 6 months ("Fear Keeps Half Of Afghan Girls Out Of School") [#47415],  [ID 1325]

Document(s): Open document

30.10.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Logar: Girls' school burnt down ("Girls School Burnt Down In Afghanistan") [#38429],  [ID 1326]

Document(s): Open document

26.11.2004 - Source: UN General Assembly

Report focused on political developments, security situation (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, police and justice reform) human rights situation, health and nutrition, voluntary repatriation and reintegration ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security - Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan A/59/581 S/2004/925") [#27496],  [ID 1327]

"56. Thanks in part to these efforts, the net enrolment rate for Afghan children between 7 and 13 years of age has increased to 54 per cent (67 per cent for boys and 37 per cent for girls). A number of factors, however, such as distances to schools, the inadequacy of facilities and lack of separate schooling for boys and girls, continue to impede larger enrolment. To address this, UNICEF is supporting the establishment of community-based schools, especially for girls in villages where no formal schools are accessible. The first phase of this project is to establish 1,500 community schools for 75,000 girls and boys in those areas where girls’ enrolment is below the national average. So far, the villages have been identified and the training for the provincial educational officials has been completed."

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

The attempted bombing of the Afshar school in west Kabul is just the latest in a string of incidents across Afghanistan by Conservative Islamists targeting schools offering an education to girls ("Girls' Schools Become Targets") [#23533],  [ID 1328]

Document(s): Open document

02.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Province of Khost: 3 schoolgirls poisoned by suspected "terrorist elements" opposed to girls attending school ("'Terrorists' poisoned schoolgirls") [#21889],  [ID 1329]

Document(s): Open document

01.04.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

3 girls' schools in Badakshan, Kapisan and Laghman have been attacked and completely or partially destroyed by unknown assailants ("SCA condemns recent attacks on girls' schools (SCA)") [#21001],  [ID 1330]

"On 19 February, at night, Jar-e-Shah Baba girls' school in Keshem, Badakshan, was attacked and burnt to the ground. On 10 March Sangana school in Rokha, Kapisa province, was bombed and three classrooms were completely destroyed. In the latest attack on 17 March, Harmal Girls school in Laghman was targeted by armed men who tied up three guards and set fire to doors, windows, school books and official documents. No person was injured in the attacks.
[...] Reports by SCA's education staff in the field give conflicting accounts of the reasons behind the attacks.
In the case of Jar-e-Shah Baba school in Keshem, where SCA supports almost 600 students in classes 1-6, armed men wearing black masks explicitly condemned education for females as they tied the two peons of the school and set fire to the building. Most reports indicate, however, that the attack was an expression of the on-going power struggle between a local commander and government authorities rather than actual resistance to girls' education. To show their support, villagers have guaranteed the safety of staff and hired armed guards to protect the school at night. The school also has roughly 600 girls in secondary education, supported by the Norwegian Committee (NAC).

In the case of the bombed Sangana school in Panjshir, some witnesses claim there was a note indicating that the attack was directed against "female activities" carried out by HABITAT, who were using school premises for meetings related to NSP (National Solidarity Programme). Other sources insist that it is more likely the result of political infighting between different factions. In the most recent attack in Laghman, no specific threats were issued.

"Whatever the reasons are it is clear that girls' schools are an easy target for anti-government forces. They are used as symbolic pawns in various power struggles, partly because they are high on the agenda of donors and the International aid community and are likely to draw attention, partly because education for girls has traditionally not been considered a priority in Afghanistan", says Dr Attaullah, acting Education Coordinator for SCA.
[...]
According to information from the Ministry of Education approximately 40 attacks on girls' schools were reported in Afghanistan in 2003. Over the past years a number of SCA-supported schools have been targeted, mainly in the south-eastern provinces. [...}"

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

One girls' school in Bala Bluk district in southwestern Farah province and one in district of Kishem in northeastern Badakhshan province, burnt by unidentified persons ("Two more girls' schools set alight in Afghanistan: UN (AFP)") [#20111],  [ID 1331]

Document(s): Open document

19.12.2003 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

Safety and security, distance from home and inadequate school facilities are the main reasons cited by families for not sending children, both girls and boys, to school ("Report of the Secretary-General: The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan (E/CN.6/2004/5)") [#18829],  [ID 1332]

"57. Girls’ education is a priority in Afghanistan. Supporting education and establishing schools as centres for social change in communities remain a priority for United Nations entities including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UNICEF and UNFPA, among others.
58. The recently concluded UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey shows a net increase of 37 per cent in girls’ enrollment between 2002 and 2003. Even southern provinces show an average net increase of about 30 per cent in spite of higher levels of insecurity and conflict. The ratio of boys to girls in school has reached the same levels as in pre-Taliban days. However, there are still many girls out of school. Safety and security, distance from home and inadequate school facilities are the main reasons cited by families for not sending children, both girls and boys, to school. In the case of girls, a shortage of female teachers continues to be a main obstacle to girls going to school.
59. The Back-to-School campaign launched by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF has been a major success and 4.2 million children are now enrolled in school. The World Food Programme (WFP) provides school- feeding to over one million children and includes an additional take home ration of four litres of oil to girl students as an incentive to encourage girls’ enrollment. They also support non-formal education training targeted to 75,000 trainees, reaching more than 38,000 women and adolescent girls participating in skills training, adult literacy and life skills. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs plans to replicate this training and WFP will provide food rations for the participants of this forward- looking initiative."

Document(s): Open document

03.12.2003 - Source: UN General Assembly

First literacy textbook for women produced ("Report of the Secretary General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (A/58/616)") [#18064],  [ID 1333]

"61. In order to reduce the high rate of illiteracy among women — an estimated 79 per cent — a new partnership between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and UNICEF was launched on 8 March 2003, International Women’s Day, to produce the country’s first literacy textbook for women. To complement the textbook, a set of teaching materials is also being produced for those who will deliver literacy courses."

Document(s): Open document

05.11.2003 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Due to a law from the mid-70s banning married women from the classroom, thousands of young Afghan women have been expelled from school ("Wives Face School Ban") [#17459],  [ID 1334]

Document(s): Open document

06.10.2003 - Source: UN General Assembly

Attacks on girls’ schools are endangering the ability of girls to return to school ("Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes ad consequences, on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan (A/58/421)") [#17532],  [ID 1335]

"8. Attacks on girls’ schools are endangering the ability of girls to return to school. In addition, drought, war and worsened economic conditions also have a negative impact on girls’ education as families prefer to marry their daughters off at increasingly early ages, in some cases to benefit from the financial gains of the traditional practice of bride price. This practice not only denies girls the opportunity of developing their human capabilities, but also subjects them to early and frequent pregnancies, thus placing them at increased risk of complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth."

Document(s): Open document

06.10.2003 - Source: UN General Assembly

Prevalence of conservative and authoritarian attitudes and discriminatory traditional practices ("Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes ad consequences, on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan (A/58/421)") [#17532],  [ID 1336]

"At the same time, the prevalence of conservative and authoritarian attitudes and discriminatory traditional practices serve to sustain and perpetuate gender prejudices and their multiple manifestations of discrimination and violence against women in both the private and the public spheres. Although national policies prohibiting female education and work have been abandoned, communities and families continue to place restrictions on the behaviour, movement and activities of women and girls. Even where direct restrictions may have eased, the continuation of the unfavourable socio-political environment inhibits women from taking initiatives as fear, rather than a sense of confidence, prevails."

Document(s): Open document

02.10.2003 - Source: UN Children's Fund

Entrance of more than 1 million girls into the Afghan school system since the fall of the Taliban reported ("UNICEF celebrates Afghanistan's "million girl mark"") [#16541],  [ID 1337]

Document(s): Open document

29.09.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Suspected militants torched two tented girls' schools in northern Afghanistan and left behind leaflets warning girls not to go to school ("Militants torch two girls' schools in northern Afghanistan (AFP)") [#16291],  [ID 1338]

Document(s): Open document

25.08.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Two years after the fall of the Taliban regime, women still face restrictions; no free education, poor healthcare situation ("For Afghan women: new regime, centuries-old barriers") [#15581],  [ID 1339]

Document(s): Open document

25.08.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Masa'i District: a violent arson attack on an EU-funded girls' school designed to keep girls away from education ("Serious attack on girl's school") [#15448],  [ID 1340]

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Secondary schools for girls are limited, especially in rural areas ("Out of sight, out of mind: The fate of the Afghan returnees") [#13706],  [ID 1341]

"Lack of access to education constitutes a serious obstacle to sustainable return. Several of the returnee children interviewed by Amnesty International had only limited access to education. While some informally settled families have been able to secure educational opportunities for their children, not one child in an informal tented settlement in Kabul comprised of 75 families was receiving formal education. Children are often denied access to education because they are required to supplement the meager income of their family through employment. Mirza Ahmed’s eight children, who live with him in Kabul city following their return from Quetta, do not go to school. Instead they wash cars, sell plastic bags and trinkets in the street or work as manual labourers to earn money for their family.
Secondary schools for girls are limited, especially in rural areas. Girls living with their families in a ruined building in western Kabul were unable to continue the education they had started to receive while in exile. Saida’s two teenage daughters, living in their newly rebuilt house in the Shomali valley after their return from Iran, told us that they could not go to school, as their father believed that it was unsafe for them to walk to the nearest secondary school some kilometers away.
Ironically, the desire to ensure an education for their children is cited as one of the main reasons for many refugees to return to Afghanistan from Iran."

Document(s): Open document

05.06.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Many Afghan girls and women are still deprived of education and working opportunities ("Afghan women still struggling for right to education, work (RFE/ RL)") [#13304],  [ID 1342]

Document(s): Open document

01.06.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Faryab province: systematical violations of the human rights by police reported ("Afghanistan improves on girls' education but abuses continue: rights body (AFP)") [#13161],  [ID 1343]

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS: Access to work and edcuation for women ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1344]

"The Deputy Minister of Women's Affairs said that the ministry is working for equality between the sexes. Everyone needs money, so the Ministry is encouraging women to get a job. To support these efforts, the Ministry has arranged for 400 women to be employed in other Ministries. In addition to this, 16 activity centres have been set up in Kabul, where 70 women are involved as health workers, advising on family planning, etc. The Ministry is also providing training in bookkeeping, finance and investment for women. There are lawyers associated with the activity centres. In all programmes, widows are given first priority. The programmes listed are all in the Kabul province, but there are programmes in 10 of the districts of the province, and the Ministry is working to set up similar programmes for women in all provinces.
UNHCR, Kabul said that women are unable to move without having male relatives. Even UNHCR have had to give up moving female staff from other areas to a better job in Kabul if they do not have relatives, with whom they can live (cf. also section 4.5.1). It is not possible to be a female breadwinner for a family. The situation is worse for women with no education than for highly educated women. Highly educated women are able to manage, if they have networks. On the subject of women in the northern area, one international source said that some women had been threatened. This was especially the case with doctors, professors, journalists and teachers who had formed a group to discuss and prepare for the participation of women in the Loya Jirga, including discussing the issue of women's rights. Some had received threatening letters in which they were accused of being associated with Western organizations or of having spoken too freely. These highly educated women are prominent or conspicuous in the local community and as such are constantly being observed. Even though there is some improvement, female staff in national NGOs are still being impeded in performing their jobs, and they are called in for interviews and are being threatened by e.g. Jamiat-i-Islami. On the other hand the source mentioned that Dostum has issued a decree that women do not need to wear a burka at work. Formally, there is equal access to education for both sexes in the sense that women are not excluded from applying to study e.g. at university. However, in practice many young women are unable to go to university, because their families are afraid of letting their daughters into the streets. Atta and Dostum are in favour of parents letting their daughters go to school.
AWA mentioned that now - contrary to the situation under the Taliban - women are again allowed to work. Especially refugee women with connection to the Northern Alliance have access to work. Single women may return to Afghanistan provided they have been guaranteed a job when they return.
As an example of the improved situation for women, DACAAR said that after the fall of the Taliban they are now again allowed to work. The source also gave the example that DACAAR is now able to hold meetings in the offices of the organization, with participation of the local female staff. It is not easy, and in the provinces everyone is very nervous, but it is possible. Previously, the local male staff members risked being beaten if it were discovered that they had attended meetings in the DACAAR local offices, also attended by women. Nevertheless, the female staff of the organization are still only able to travel, once a range of security measures have been made, arrangements relating to pick-up, accommodation, etc. The source further said that Ismael Khan in Herat has ordered all women working for Western NGOs to register and attend a meeting to be instructed in how to conduct themselves.
ACBAR believed that the situation of women has improved. For instance, women are now allowed to take up paid work. Women are working in schools as teachers and office staff. In Herat, Ismael Khan has called in all women working for Westerners and has told them not to get too close to Westerners."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2003 - Source: ReliefWeb

Developing education for women, by women, in Afghanistan ("Developing education for women, by women, in Afghanistan") [#30519],  [ID 1345]

"A new partnership between the Afghan Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women's Affairs and UNICEF is to be launched on Saturday 8 March - International Women's Day - to produce the country's first literacy textbook for women.
Afghanistan has a high rate of illiteracy amongst women - estimated at 79 per cent - and the new textbook is designed as a first step towards improving the reading, writing and comprehension skills of women across the country. Designed by teams of women supported by the Ministry of Education's Department of Literacy, UNICEF, UNESCO's Institute of Adult Education and Save the Children US, the textbook will focus on the subject of life skills within an Islamic context. Chapters will concentrate on issues such as the importance of the family, raising healthy children, food, the environment, housekeeping, respect and understanding, marriage, and employment."

Document(s): Open document

16.01.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW: Limits on female education in Herat ("New Limits on Female Education in Afghanistan") [#10361],  [ID 1346]

Document(s): Open document

31.10.2002 - Source: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

UNAMA: Attacks on girl's schools in Wardak province ("Afghanistan Weekly Situation Report for Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction (25 - 31 October 2002)") [#9491],  [ID 1348]

"Kabul is, generally, steadily returning to a more stable situation, however, on the night of the 25-26 October, four girls’ schools were reported attacked by rockets or set on fire in Wardak province. Two schools were in Maiden-Shar; one was in Nirch and one in Jalrez district. Leaflets were posted at the mosque in the villages of the torched schools decrying the education of girls."

Document(s): Open document
unama_weekly_25_31_october2002.pdf

31.08.2002 - Source: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

UNAMA : Girls not allowed access to schools in Kapisa province ("Afghanistan Weekly Situation Report Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction (25 -31 August 2002)") [#8571],  [ID 1350]

"A mission to Kapisa Province reported that even with a relatively progressive government in place in the provincial capital, human rights violations and suppression of girls' participation in schools continue."

Document(s): Open document

12.07.2002 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

UN Secretary-General: Continuing restrictions on education and pervasive insecurity for female students ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of women and girls in the territories occupied by Afghan armed groups (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/27)") [#8325],  [ID 1351]

"18. The overthrow of the Taliban opens up new opportunities for increasing gender equity and promoting the positive development of girls. Schools re-opened in Afghanistan on 23 March 2002, six years after girls had last been allowed to attend school and women had last been allowed to teach. For the first time in five years, women in Afghanistan took university examinations. In Kabul, 500 of the 3,000 people who took university entrance examinations were women. The educational system, though it is beginning to be restored, is still not fully accessible to all who need it. According to reports, there are continuing restrictions on education and pervasive insecurity for female students. It was reported that female students felt unsafe walking along the streets, out of fear of the presence of gunmen and soldiers, who were reportedly all Taliban. Books printed by the interim government were allegedly not being provided to teachers to distribute among students, so they were compelled to teach the curriculum published by the Taliban. Teachers also reported that the head of a provincial education department appointed by the Kabul authorities had been rejected and threatened with death if he tried to occupy his position. […]"

Document(s): Open document
Archive.pdf

12.07.2002 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

UN Secretary-General: From the age of 10 onward, girls are often withdrawn from co-educational activities ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of women and girls in the territories occupied by Afghan armed groups (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/27)") [#8325],  [ID 1352]

"20. Discrimination against girls has deep cultural and historic roots and continues to be strong, particularly in rural villages. Often girls do not walk beyond the village and lack the access to health and educational services that boys enjoy. Among disabled children, who, in addition to the loss of limbs and disfigurement face stigmatization and limited access to school and social services, girls are more at a disadvantage than boys. Throughout Afghanistan girl children are considered “guardians of the family honour”. Therefore, daughters are frequently closely protected and their public activities restricted. From the age of 10 onward, girls are often withdrawn from co-educational activities and restricted to domestic duties. During the period before marriage, many girls are kept in purdah, confined to their houses as a means of ensuring their purity."

Document(s): Open document
Archive.pdf

12.07.2002 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

UN Secretary-General: Tensions between conservative women's movement in rural areas and women's movement in Kabul considered "overly liberal" ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of women and girls in the territories occupied by Afghan armed groups (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/27)") [#8325],  [ID 1355]

"14. Women leaders in Afghanistan face challenges that include the precarious security situation; a lack of education, training, tools and acceptance as leaders; and in some cases seclusion. Afghan women are committed to rebuilding their country despite an overwhelming concern for security. Particularly outside of Kabul, security is compromised by feuding warlords, armed bandits, a proliferation of weapons and militarized males and religious extremism. In this context, Afghan women leaders face the threat of a violent backlash, and it is reported that in rural areas conservative women’s groups are increasingly organizing themselves against what is perceived to be an overly liberal women’s movement in Kabul. Most are proceeding cautiously to consolidate gains and avoid devastating reversals, while a minority rejects an incremental approach in favour of confronting fundamentalism and patriarchy head on."

Document(s): Open document
Archive.pdf

06.06.2002 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch: Teachers of girls' schools compelled to teach the curriculum published by the Taliban ("Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper: Afghanistan: Return of the Warlords") [#7373],  [ID 1353]

"An independent journalist assessing security conditions in Zabul province visited a girls' school in Qalat and found continuing restrictions on education and pervasive insecurity for female students.
I went to the only girls' school in the district and spoke to the female teachers in the office. The female students I interviewed complained about the curriculum and security. They said they did not feel safe walking along the streets, from fear of the gunmen. They said the gunmen and soldiers were all Taliban. They said books printed by the interim government were not being provided to them to distribute among the students. All of the books were being kept in storage, with the door sealed. "We are compelled to teach the curriculum published by the Taliban," they said.
The school's teachers also told the journalist that the head of the provincial education department appointed by the Kabul authorities had been rejected and threatened with death if he tried to occupy his position."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

06.03.2002 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

UN Commission on Human Rights: Reopening of schools and universities for girls and women ("Report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, submitted by Mr. Kamal Hossain, Special Rapporteur, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/13 E/CN.4/2002/43") [#6416],  [ID 1354]

"A key change which the transition aims to bring about is the restoration of the rights of Afghan women, who had been the targets of systematic discrimination denying them access to employment, education and health services. That the process of change has begun is reflected in the reopening of schools for girls and women returning to their normal jobs. This was evident in Kabul and Herat. For the first time in five years, women throughout Afghanistan participated in university examinations. In Kabul, of the 3,000 people who took examinations for entrance to the university, 500 were women. Future plans and programmes for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan with particular emphasis on women’s rights require an understanding of the country’s past as well as its traditions and customs. Special attention should therefore be directed at the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, including the right to non-discrimination with regard to sex, age, religion, ethnicity, disability and political affiliation. Women’s effective participation in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life should be promoted and protected throughout the country, including the right to life; respect for the right of women to work; the rights to education and to security of person; freedom of movement and association; freedom of opinion and expression; and the right to equal access to facilities necessary to protect their right to the highest attainable physical and mental health."

Document(s): Open document
sr-afg-060302.pdf