My Trip to Afghanistan
Over Mother’s Day, I led a Congressional delegation of fellow congresswomen to Afghanistan. We had the opportunity to meet with our brave service members and learn about the amazing work they are doing. We also met with a number of NATO commanders as well as the civilian and military leadership in the country.
The highlight of our trip was meeting with a group of Pashtun women in a province outside the community of Kandahar. This is the same community in which a number of young women were sprayed with acid when on their way to school. It was extraordinary to learn of these women’s interests and the plans they already have to promote educational opportunities for illiterate and uneducated residents. They are taking initiative in a quite extraordinary context – one in which they have everyday fears about even walking out of their homes.
These women were hopeful that we, along with the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, could help provide the space necessary to grow a community in a positive fashion for themselves and their children. We always hear about how backward the thinking can be on the role of women in Afghanistan, but we saw in this group of women so disadvantaged by war and poverty a line of thinking quite different. It was impressive to hear their aspirations and what they hoped would take flight within their village.
Unfortunately, we were disturbed to hear about the treatment of women and erosion of their rights in Afghanistan under the Shiite Personal Status Law recently passed by the National Assembly which actually runs counter to their constitution. Upon our return, we sent a letter to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai expressing our deep concern. This law has raised a furor, both among the Afghan public and the international community, because of its blatant violation of the fundamental human rights of women. Essentially, it legalizes marital rape, undermines women’s parental rights in divorce proceedings, and restricts their rights to movement.
Although President Karzai has stated that the government is reviewing the law, it could be published and go into effect at any time. We, therefore, urged him to immediately act to amend the bill by removing the offensive sections before publication.
A key component to the stabilization and prosperity of Afghanistan is the full respect of women’s rights. Progress is difficult, if not impossible, if half of the nation’s population is placed at a significant disadvantage. I plan to stay active on this issue and hope that President Karzai will take steps to protect the rights of Afghan women and include more women in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
I have led a number of Congressional delegations, but what made this trip remarkable was the opportunity to do something few are able to do – to meet with women who have not been at the center of the debate but whom nonetheless have aspirations and interests that I hope are included as Afghanistan moves forward.