APPEAL: Join Us in Our Appeal to the UK on Afghan Women's Rights

Source: 
No Women, No Peace
Duration: 
Monday, June 18, 2012 - 20:00
Countries: 
Asia
Southern Asia
Afghanistan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Participation
Initiative Type: 
Appeals & Demonstrations

When the UK and USA entered Afghanistan in 2001 they made a promise to improve the lives of Afghan women. In the last ten years there has been some progress in terms of education, the right to work and the freedom of movement. However much remains to be done as Afghan women continue to face gendered discrimination and violence. With international forces withdrawing in 2014 Afghan women are afraid that the gains that have been made in the last ten years will be reversed. According to our member organisation ActionAid 9 out of 10 women in Afghanistan are afraid of a return to Taliban-style government.

The last year has been a crucial time for women in Afghanistan as talks, meetings and negotiations deciding the future of their country have been taking place. Despite this women continue to be marginalised by being absent from the negotiating table and as concerns of Afghan women's groups continue to go unheard.

We need to take action!

In early July, the Afghan government and its international partners will meet in Tokyo to discuss development aid to Afghanistan and we need to make sure that the UK government champions women's rights. We at NWNP think that Tokyo is a great opportunity for the UK government to push to have legal and policy commitments translated into action.

How you can take action

Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell will be answering questions on June 25th as part of DFID's Facebook initiative. This is a way for you to voice your concerns around women's rights in Afghanistan at Tokyo. So go ahead and post your questions. Make it even more effective, by commenting on and ‘liking' each other's questions.

We at No women, no peace hope that at Tokyo the UK government will ensure that:

  • There will be Afghan women delegates and civil society members present at the conference

  • It has consultations with Afghan women's groups outside of the conference given that such groups have a deep understanding of issues within their communities

  • It makes a long-term and tangible commitment towards safeguarding women's rights

  • Women's rights and needs are taken into account when administering aid. Aid is effectively targeted and used towards the specific development needs of women and girls.

  • It provides support to development programmes that promote women's rights and wellbeing in political, social and economic spheres