Afghan Women's Council

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The Afghan Women's Council (AWC) is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-sectarian charitable organization that was established in 1986 with the primary objective of providing assistance to Afghan women and children. [1] The organization's core mission is to empower women, enhance their living conditions, and bolster their socio-economic standing within society through active participation in various development initiatives. They also hope to increase awareness of human rights, women’s rights, refugee rights, children’s rights, peace-building and democracy issues within the Afghan context. [1] The AWC is duly registered with both the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Afghanistan as a charitable non-governmental organization (NGO). [1]

Contents

Leadership

During the late 1980s, the Council was led by Masuma Esmati-Wardak, who emphasized that the AWC’s principal objectives include raising women’s consciousness, making them aware of their rights, and improving women’s living conditions and professional skills. Since its inception in 1986, the AWC has been actively engaged in a range of initiatives aimed at supporting Afghan refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan. Furthermore, the organization has been operating a hospital in Kabul since 1992, providing critical healthcare services to the community. The AWC holds official registrations with key government bodies and international organizations, including the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office for Partnerships, and the World Food Program, as an Afghan NGO. Additionally, it is registered with the Ministry of Justice as a recognized social organization. [2]

Along with Wardak, the AWC was also ran by a staff of eight women. Some of these staff members were also members of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA.) When the communist regime began in 1978, under Nur Muhammad Taraki, the government gave equal rights to women. This allowed women the ability to make decisions regarding their own lives. [2]

This was a significant regime, as human rights for all people in Afghanistan, and specifically for women, can only be ensured through democracy. [3]

However, the history of Afghanistan’s ongoing war has meant that women continue to be excluded from the social, political, and economic areas of Afghan society. Afghan women continue to be excluded in decision-making processes due to ongoing social norms. [4]

The current president of AWC, Fatana Ishaq Gailani, believes that Afghan women have suffered a great deal during this ongoing war. They have been killed, have lost their children and suffered much tribulation. Gailani has said that the AWC has "provided assistance to two thousand needy widows and orphans." [5] Gailani has also expressed her belief in uniting Afghanistan as a country to bring women together and to recognize their rights: “We do not recognize north and south in Afghanistan. We recognize only one historical Afghanistan.” [6]

Attitudes towards gender roles in Afghanistan

When discussing attitudes towards gender roles in Afghanistan, there is a noticeable difference between men and women. Typically, men exhibit more traditional views compared to women. This variation is evident regardless of whether the focus is on basic women's rights or their political empowerment. However, it's important to note that these attitudes are not fixed. Factors such as education level, ethnic background, and urban living can influence these views. Additionally, for women, changes across generations also play a role in shaping their perspectives on gender roles. [7]

The journey of Afghan women towards suffrage and political involvement has been characterized by progress in a highly unstable sociocultural and political environment. [8]

In a TOLO News interview with Taliban Spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi in 2021, he mentioned that "a woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can't carry. It is not necessary for women to be in the cabinet - they should give birth." When the interviewer countered "women are half of society", Hashimi replied with "But we do not consider them half. What kind of half? The half itself is misdefined here. The half means here that you keep them in the cabinet and nothing more. And if you violate her rights, not an issue." [9]

A recent development with Gordon Brown and the International Criminal Court has enabled the Taliban to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity over the "systematic brutalization of women and girls" in Afghanistan. [10]

This is a recent development that was implemented after the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August 2021. This led to the deterioration of human rights and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban's initial promise to respect women's and girl's rights. [11] This systematic oppression is part of a larger human rights crisis in Afghanistan, where the rights of various groups, including women protesters, girls’ students, teachers, and women’s rights defenders, have been violated by the Taliban. [12]

In response to these violations, the international community, led by the United Nations, is focusing on continued engagement with the Taliban. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, advocates for a "reframed engagement strategy," emphasizing that dialogue and engagement are essential for attempting to change these policies. [13]

Sima Bahous, the head of the UN’s gender equality agency, has highlighted the economic, mental health, and developmental crises stemming from the Taliban's decrees. She urges that the situation in Afghanistan should be primarily viewed through the lens of the women's rights crisis and recommends that the UN Security Council Committee overseeing sanctions against Afghanistan convene a session to address these violations. [13]

The importance of education

Over the past year, UN Women has engaged in a collaborative effort with UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) and IOM (International Organization for Migration) to conduct regular consultations with Afghan women residing within the country. The objective of this initiative is to place women at the forefront of international decision-making.

During the most recent quarter, women once again communicated with the council that their topmost priority is gaining access to education. Over four out of five young women and girls who should have the opportunity to pursue education are currently unable to do so. The long-term consequences of this situation cannot be overstated, as it not only affects the women and girls directly impacted but also has far-reaching repercussions on their families and communities. [14]

Furthermore, according to the National Intelligence Council, approximately 3.5 million out of the 9 million Afghan citizens currently enrolled in educational institutions are female. Nevertheless, only 17 percent of rural girls have access to secondary education, in contrast to their urban counterparts, where 45 percent attend secondary school. Over 80 percent of Afghan women aged 15 and older lack basic literacy skills. The educational landscape in Afghanistan experienced significant growth post-2001, witnessing a more than tenfold increase in the number of schools. However, the ongoing rise in insecurity has led to the closure of many of these educational facilities in recent years. [15]

The AWC's development activities

The AWC actively encourages community participation in social and economic development through initiatives that involve beneficiaries in decision-making, planning, and project execution. Advisory Committees with diverse representation facilitate this engagement, and local employment ensures communities have a stake in program implementation. [1]

1. Education

The AWC offers expertise in a diverse range of areas, including literacy, mathematics, healthcare, parenting, conflict resolution, and many more. Furthermore, AWC specializes in community development, healthcare initiatives, alternative livelihood programs, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Since its establishment in 1986, AWC has provided valuable education and support to thousands of Afghan women. [1]

2. Healthcare

Mother and Child Health Clinic: Commencing its services in 2000, the clinic extended support to approximately 25,000 impoverished families residing in the Shahrak Khurasan area of Kabul. It operated independently until 2002, without reliance on external donors. An 11-member team attends to the needs of 60-80 mothers and children daily, offering essential medical care, laboratory tests, and medications, all without financial compensation. [1]

Psychosocial Support and Counselling: The AWC prioritizes psychosocial support, catering to individual and group needs. They focus on enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence, fostering improved interpersonal and intergroup relationships, and providing effective tools for managing stress, anger and grief. [1]

3. Relief and rehabilitation

In the past year, the AWC extended vital relief assistance to 1,000 women during the winter season and continued to support numerous individuals on a monthly basis. Since 2002, the AWC has executed a relief project that has benefitted 500 families, encompassing the provision of clean drinking water, essential shelter materials, and sustenance in Paktika and Parwan Provinces. [1]

4. Income generation

The AWC offers comprehensive training programs in a range of essential topics ranging from small business operations to vegetable gardening. [1]

5. Rights, peace and democracy

The AWC has been an advocate for Afghan women’s rights, participating in global human rights, peace-building, and democracy events since 1933. As well as providing training in crucial areas, they also conduct seminars and workshops to raise awareness and unity among women, enabling them to assert their rights from family to government levels. The organization also encourages women to engage in political processes. [1]

6. International support

The AWC places a strong emphasis on the professional development of its staff members. The organization has sponsored select staff members to attend seminars and workshops in locations like New Delhi and Sri Lanka. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan</span> Afghan womens organization founded in 1977

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) is a women's organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan, that promotes women's rights and secular democracy. It was founded in 1977 by Meena Keshwar Kamal, an Afghan student activist who was assassinated in February 1987 for her political activities. The group, which supports non-violent strategies, had its initial office in Kabul, Afghanistan, but then moved to Pakistan in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taliban</span> Militant organization in control of Afghanistan

The Taliban, which also refers to itself by its state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is an Afghan political and militant movement with an ideology comprising elements of Pashtun nationalism and the Deobandi movement of Islamic fundamentalism. It ruled approximately 75% of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, before it was overthrown by an American invasion after the September 11th attacks carried out by the Taliban's ally al-Qaeda. The Taliban recaptured Kabul in August 2021 following the departure of coalition forces, after 20 years of Taliban insurgency, and now controls the entire country. The Taliban government is not recognized by any country and has been internationally condemned for restricting human rights, including women's rights to work and have an education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treatment of women by the Taliban</span> Gender policies, punishments of the Taliban

The treatment of women by the Taliban refers to actions and policies by two distinct Taliban regimes in Afghanistan which are either specific or highly commented upon, mostly due to discrimination, since they first took control in 1996. During their first rule of Afghanistan, the Taliban were notorious internationally for their misogyny and violence against women. In 1996, women were mandated to wear the burqa at all times in public. In a systematic segregation sometimes referred to as gender apartheid, women were not allowed to work, nor were they allowed to be educated after the age of eight. Women seeking an education were forced to attend underground schools, where they and their teachers risked execution if caught. They were not allowed to be treated by male doctors unless accompanied by a male chaperone, which led to illnesses remaining untreated. They faced public flogging and execution for violations of the Taliban's laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Access for Afghan Women Act</span>

The Access for Afghan Women Act of 2003 is a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Dana Rohrabacher. The bill was submitted on March 27, 2003, to the House of Representatives and was immediately referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massouda Jalal</span> Afghan presidential candidate

Dr. Massouda Jalal is the first woman in the history of Afghanistan who ran for the Office of the President of Afghanistan in 2002, 2004, and again in 2019. Dr. Jalal emerged as a leading voice of Afghan women after her election as the Representative to the 2002 Loya Jirga as she became one of the frontrunners for the position of Interim President of Afghanistan, opposite to ex-president Hamid Karzai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Alliance</span> 1996–2001 anti-Taliban military front in Afghanistan

The Northern Alliance, officially known as the United Islamic National Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan, was a military alliance of groups that operated between early 1992 and 2001 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. At that time, many non-Pashtun Northerners originally with the Republic of Afghanistan led by Mohammad Najibullah became disaffected with Pashtun Khalqist Afghan Army officers holding control over non-Pashtun militias in the North. Defectors such as Rashid Dostum and Abdul Momim allied with Ahmad Shah Massoud and Ali Mazari forming the Northern Alliance. The alliance's capture of Mazar-i-Sharif and more importantly the supplies kept there crippled the Afghan military and began the end of Najibullah's government. Following the collapse of Najibullah's government the Alliance would fall with a Second Civil War breaking out however following the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's (Taliban) takeover of Kabul, The United Front was reassembled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Afghanistan</span>

Education in Afghanistan includes K–12 and higher education, which is under the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education. In 2021, there were nearly 10 million students and 220,000 teachers in Afghanistan. The nation still requires more schools and teachers. Soon after the Taliban take took the country in August 2021, they banned girls from secondary education. Some provinces still allow secondary education for girls despite the ban. In December 2022, the Taliban government also prohibited university education for females in Afghanistan, sparking protests and international condemnation. In December 2023, investigations were being held by the United Nations into the claim that Afghan girls of all ages were allowed to study at religious schools.

Human rights in Afghanistan are severely restricted, especially since Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021. Women's rights and freedom are severely restricted as they are banned from most public spaces and employment. Afghanistan is the only country in the world to ban education for women over the age of eleven. Taliban's policies towards women are usually termed as gender apartheid. Minority groups such as Hazaras face persecution and eviction from their lands. Authorities have used physical violence, raids, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, enforced disappearances of activists and political opponents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Women's Affairs (Afghanistan)</span> Ministry of womens affairs in Afghanistan

Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) was a ministry in the Afghan government which was established in late 2001 by the Afghan Interim Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Afghanistan</span> Rights of females in the country Afghanistan

Women's rights in Afghanistan are severely restricted by the Taliban. In 2023, the United Nations termed Afghanistan as the world's most repressive country for women. Since the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban gradually imposed restrictions on women's freedom of movement, education, and employment. Women are banned from studying in secondary schools and universities, making Afghanistan the only country to prohibit females from studying beyond the sixth grade. Women are not allowed in parks, gyms, or beauty salons. They are forbidden from going outside for a walk or exercise, from speaking or showing any part of their face or body outside the home, or even from singing or reading from within their own homes if they could be heard by strangers outside. In extreme cases, women have reportedly been subjected to gang-rape and torture in Taliban prisons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Conference on Afghanistan, London (2010)</span> Aspect of Afghani history

On 28 January 2010, an International Conference on Afghanistan was held at Lancaster House in London, where members of the international community discussed the further progress on the Petersberg agreement from 2001 on the democratization of Afghanistan after the ousting of the Taliban regime. The one-day conference, hosted by the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the Afghan government, meant to chart a new course for the future of Afghanistan and brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives from more than 70 countries and international organizations. The conference was attended by the Afghan president Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, British prime minister Gordon Brown, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, as seen at right. Participants also included the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rangin Dadfar Spanta, UN envoy Kai Eide and the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, as well former Afghan minister of finance Ashraf Ghani. Afghanistan agreed to timetables to take control of certain military and police functions, and launched a program to lure Taliban insurgents back to mainstream life with financial incentives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2001

United Nations Security Council resolution 1378, adopted unanimously on 14 November 2001, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, including resolutions 1267 (1999), 1333 (2000) and 1363 (2001), the Council affirmed that the United Nations would play an important role in the country and called for the establishment of a transitional administration leading to the formation of a new government.

2003 in Afghanistan. A list of notable incidents in Afghanistan during 2003

The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues is located within the United States Department of State. In 2009, Melanne Verveer was appointed to be the first Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. From September 2013 to May, 2017, Catherine M. Russell was appointed to this position. From May 2017 through December 2019, there was no ambassador for this office. Kelley Currie, a political appointee, joined the Global Women's Issues Office as U.S. Ambassador-at-Large in January 2020. Geeta Rao Gupta is the current Ambassador-at-Large for the office as of May 18, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sima Wali</span> Afghan human rights advocate

Sima Wali was one of the foremost Afghan human rights advocates in the world, serving as an international campaigner for the liberties and empowerment of refugee and internally displaced populations. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Refugee Women in Development (RefWID), Inc., a global non-profit organization that advocated for the civil rights of refugee women and girls fleeing from conflict and for their equitable reintegration into their societies. She was also the vice president of the Sisterhood Is Global Institute, the world’s first feminist think tank.

Foreign aid for gender equality in Jordan includes programs funded by governments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that aim to empower women, close gender based gaps in opportunity and experience, and promote equal access to education, economic empowerment, and political representation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adela Raz</span> Last Afghan ambassador to the United States

Adela Raz is an Afghan politician who was the last ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States from July 2021 to February 2022. She was also the first woman to serve as Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations.

On 15 August 2021, the city of Kabul, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was captured by Taliban forces during the 2021 Taliban offensive, concluding the War in Afghanistan that began in 2001. The fall of Kabul provoked a range of reactions across the globe, including debates on whether to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, on the humanitarian situation in the country, on the outcome of the War, and the role of military interventionism in world affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan</span> International relations of Afghanistans Taliban government

The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since taking control by force in 2021, overthrowing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The takeover was widely criticized by the international community, and no countries have extended de jure diplomatic recognition to the new regime, despite nominally maintaining relations with Afghanistan. The Taliban has campaigned for international recognition since the takeover. Several countries have vowed never to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and others have said they will do so only if human rights in the country are respected. Some countries have accredited Taliban diplomats at the chargé d'affaires level despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate. In September 2023, the People's Republic of China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to the country since the takeover, and in January 2024 recognized the Taliban's envoy to China; however, the PRC still does not formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates also accepted a Taliban appointed diplomat as Afghanistan's new ambassador in August 2024.

Fatima Gailani is an Afghan political leader and women's rights activist, who previously served as president of the Afghan Red Crescent Society. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Our Profile". Afghanistan Women Council.[ non-primary source needed ]
  2. 1 2 Tétreault, Mary Ann (1994). Women and Revolution in Africa, Asia, and the New World. Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 227. ISBN   978-1-57003-016-1.
  3. Ahmed-ghosh, Huma (March 2006). "Voices of Afghan women: Human rights and economic development". International Feminist Journal of Politics. 8 (1): 110–128. doi:10.1080/14616740500415508. S2CID   144587310.
  4. Samar, Sima (22 March 2019). "Feminism, Peace, and Afghanistan". Journal of International Affairs. 72 (2): 145–159. Gale   A601553281 ProQuest   2297100368.
  5. "Database".
  6. "Afghan Women Council calls for united Afghanistan". BBC Monitoring Central Asia. 2 February 2002. ProQuest   450571027.
  7. Manganaro, Lynne L.; Alozie, Nicholas O. (April 2011). "Gender Role Attitudes: Who Supports Expanded Rights for Women in Afghanistan?". Sex Roles. 64 (7–8): 516–529. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9931-6. S2CID   145672330.
  8. Fleschenberg, Andrea (2019). "Afghanistan: Uphill Challenges for Women's Political Rights". The Palgrave Handbook of Women's Political Rights. pp. 185–199. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-59074-9_13. ISBN   978-1-137-59073-2. S2CID   158267643.
  9. ""Woman Can't be a Minister... They Should Give Birth": Taliban".
  10. "Taliban's treatment of women is crime against humanity, says Gordon Brown".
  11. "THE TALIBAN'S WAR ON WOMEN: The crime against humanity of gender persecution in Afghanistan" (PDF). Amnesty International . March 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  12. "Afghanistan: The Rule of Taliban: A year of violence, impunity and false promises".
  13. 1 2 "Engagement key to reform of Taliban decrees restricting women's rights". UN News. 26 September 2023.
  14. "Speech: The women's rights crisis: Listen to, invest in, include, and support Afghan women". UN Women – Headquarters. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  15. "Afghanistan: Women's Economic, Political, Social Status Driven by Cultural Norms" (PDF). www.dni.gov. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2024.