First Lady Stepping Out

Zeenat Karzai, the wife of former President Karzai, was kept hidden from view. Rula Ghani does not hide well. She will likely have a public role in advocating for Afghan women and children. Among urban and educated Afghans this is likely seen as a step forward. However, religious conservatives are fuming. Mrs. Ghani, a Christian, met here husband in Beirut, Lebanon and moved to the United States with him. She is Lebanese-American. Read more in "Jolting Some, Afghan Leader Brings Wife Into the Picture", The New York Times, October 15, 2014.

Women Drivers in Afghanistan

There are very few women drivers in Afghanistan. Not only must these intrepid drivers brave the traffic (in Kabul it is horrible) but they must endure the stares of men who have trouble with the vision of women drivers. Read more in "Women drivers in Afghanistan must brave the traffic and the stares", The Washington Post, October 13, 2014.

Commander Pigeon - Female Warlord in Afghanistan

Here is an interesting story about a female Afghan warlord - Commander Pigeon. Read "My Terrifying Night With Afghanistan's Only Female Warlord", by Jen Percy, New Republic, October 13, 2014.

Female Afghan Journalists Behind the Burqa

There are a small number of female Afghan journalists. They face a number of obstacles in their work - among them threats from the Taliban and intimidation from conservative members of Afghan society. Read more in "Some Female Afghan Journalists Slip Back Behind the Burqa", Voice of America, October 11, 2014.

Plight of Women in Afghanistan

A news article in The Huffington Post updates us on the plight of women in Afghanistan. Topics such as "bride price', lack of access to health and education, poverty, regressive social norms, and detrimental cultural practices contribute to the many problems presented to women in Afghanistan. Read more in "International Day of the Girl: Afghanistan Through the Eyes of the Girl" (October 10, 2014).

Afghanistan Mining Industry and Women

Afghanistan is rich in mineral resources but still hampered by security and infrastructure problems in exploiting those resources. Observers are hopeful that the mining industry can assist in strengthening Afghanistan's economy yet some are concerned about the possible adverse effects on Afghanistan's women. Read more in "Afghanistan's Mining Industry, Crucial for Economy, Holds Risks for Women", United States Institute of Peace, October 10, 2014.

Mrs. Ghani - A Force for Gender Equality?

The election of President Ghani has been welcomed by many as a step forward. One aspect of his election to President that has not been discussed in great detail is the role of Ghani's wife. Rula Ghani is a Lebanese American and a Christian. She will certainly be playing a more active role than conservative Afghans will be used to. Should be interesting to see what type of influence she will have on gender issues and the plight of women in Afghanistan. Read more in "Will Afghanistan's new first lady push for gender equality?", AOL.com, October 9, 2014.

Paper - Women, Peace, and Security (EDP Sep 14)

The non-governmental organization known as Equality for Peace and Democracy (EDP) (www.epd-afg.org) has published a paper entitled "Women, Peace, and Security in Afghanistan: Looking Back to move Forward". The paper, published in September 2014, revisits the Peace Process Roadmap to 2015 from the High Peace Council as a means of looking back in order to determine how to move forward. The paper outlines the major challenges to women's involvement in peace and security. The Equality for Peace and Democracy organization " . . . recommends that the political, international and civil society actors focus on mechanisms that allow for a greater grassroots contribution to the peace process". Read an Executive Summary of the report . . . and read the report online or download at ReliefWeb.

Gender Integration into ANSF

One of the areas where ISAF has been working with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is in gender integration - growing the number of women working with in the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, military formations and police forces. A recent news release from ISAF explains some of the advances that have been made and the work that lies ahead. See "Afghan, ISAF leaders discuss gender integration into ANSF", ISAF News, September 21, 2014.

RoL Training for Afghan Women

The International Security Assistance Command (ISAF) recently conducted Rule of Law (RoL) training for Afghan women working as prosecutors, intelligence analysts, and interrogators. The one-day training event was held in September 16th, 2014. The training consisted of evidence collection, intelligence gathering, crime scene collection, preservation and recovery of evidence, as well as police and prosecution cooperation. The training event is an attempt to increase the networking opportunities with like-minded professionals to improve crime scene investigation techniques that will lead to eventual prosecution of criminals and their networks. The move to warrant-based targeting and prosecution supports the establishment of Rule of Law in a counterinsurgency environment. Read more on this training event in "Afghan women attend first Rule of Law training", ISAF News, September 17, 2014.

Female Counterinsurgents in Afghanistan

An observer of the Afghan conflict notes that there has been an increased deployment of female counterinsurgents in Afghanistan. She points to the Female Engagement Teams (FETs) that were assigned in the later years of the war. This essay assesses the role of the FETs in changing counterinsurgent practice in Afghanistan. The report, written by Charlotte Fraser, was posted on February 22, 2014 on the E-International Relations website at "The Deployment of Female Counterinsurgents in Afghanistan". (Photo by DVIDS US Army).

Criminal Law That Penalizes Afghan Women to be Reviewed

The Afghan parliament recently passed a law concerning criminal legislation that penalizes women of Afghanistan. The new criminal procedure code would ban relatives from testifying against alleged abusers. This would effectively curtail most of the prosecutions of crimes against women. The new code met stiff opposition from the international community, human rights organizations, and some members of Afghan society. Karzai has taken a look at the new code and wants it to be reworded. See "Afghan president orders changes to draft law following claims it would hurt women's rights", US News and World Report, February 17, 2014.

Interview with Fawzia Koofi - Woman MP in Afghan Parliament

A woman member of the Afghan parliament and a strong advocate for women's rights in Afghanistan has provided an interview highlighting the difficulties that women have in the Afghan governmental process. Fawzia Koofi was a presidential candidate planning to run in the April 2014 presidential elections until she was disqualified. Read more about Fawzia Koofi in "The leadership turns off our microphones when we speak", The Guardian, February 8, 2014.

UNAMA - Women Participation Key to Afghan Election Success

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is calling the role of women in decision-making vital for Afghanistan's future. The voting by women in the upcoming Afghan elections will be an indicator of the elections success and the hopes are that women will come out in force to vote. Afghan women have made great strides since the overthrow of the Taliban regime in late 2001; however, with the withdrawal of ISAF those advances may fade. Read more in "Afghanistan: UN official says women's participation 'key measure' of election's success", UN News Centre, February 5, 2014.

New Law May Deny Afghan Women Protection

A new law passed by both houses of the Afghan parliament would effectively deny women protection from domestic violence and forced or child marriage. Although Afghan women have made some gains since the toppling of the Taliban there are many members of the Parliament that hold some very traditional and religious (Islam) values that bode badly for women once the Coalition departs Afghanistan in December 2014. It is expected to be signed by President Karzai for final signature in the next few weeks. Read more in "Afghanistan: Reject New Law Protecting Abusers of Women", Human Rights Watch, February 4, 2014.

Human Rights Report 2104 - Afghan Women

A recent report by Human Rights Watch (2014) states that there is great concern that women's rights in Afghanistan will back-slip due to the withdrawal of ISAF troops post-2014. The report cites that there was declining respect for human rights in the country over the past year (2013). It cites attacks on women's rights, growing internal displacement and migration, and weakened efficacy of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). According to the report, opponents of women's rights have seized the opportunity to begin rolling back the progress made since the end of the Taliban rule. This has happened due to the waning international interest in Afghanistan. Read Human Rights Watch Report on Afghan Women.

Post-2014 Economy and Afghan Women

Concerns are arising about the fate of Afghan women as the post-2014 era comes closer. In December 2014 the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will pull out either completely or leaving behind a very small force. With the withdrawal of ISAF goes the leverage and influence that the NATO partners have over the Afghan government and the Afghan society. Women have benefited tremendously after the Taliban regime was swept away. ISAF and the international community have poured millions of dollars to improve the plight of Afghan women in context of education, medical, education and other aspects of life in Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan women and the post-2014 economy", DEVEX, January 21, 2014.

AIHRC Says Violence Against Women in Afghanistan Reached Record Levels in 2013

The Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan (AIHRC) says that violence against women in Afghanistan reached record levels in 2013. "Figures released last month (December 2013) show that the six-month period between March and September 2013 witnessed a 25 percent increase in recorded attacks". New laws and international agreements and accords have put protective regulations and policies on the books in Afghanistan but there is little political will among the public, police, and judiciary to observe the rules. Read more in "Violence Against Women in Afghanistan Peaked in 2013", The Diplomat, January 14, 2014.

Women Making Strides in Education in Kandahar Province

Women are making some gains as both students and with employment as teachers in Kandahar province. The province is a stronghold of the Taliban and during the Taliban reign women were disadvantaged with little opportunity for education or employment. However, some progress is being made. Learn more in "Afghan Women Work, Learn and Make Gains in Former Taliban Base", Voice of America, January 14, 2014.

Internet Provides a Veil for Women in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan have made impressive gains since the Taliban have been toppled. These gains could quickly erode over time if the Taliban take power or if a more conservative Parliament comes to power changing the laws that provided women protection. One aspect of society should continue to provide opportunity and protection - and that is the Internet. Read more in "Can Afghan women seek sanctuary in the Internet's virtual veil?",  Stars and Stripes, January 12, 2014.