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Afghan warlords 'threaten women'
By Andrew North 10-5-04 BBC correspondent in Kabul Threats on women by the Taleban and warlords are undermining their participation in Afghanistan's upcoming elections, a human rights group says. The US-based Human Rights Watch says in a report that very few women have registered to vote on Saturday in areas where the Taleban are active. The report says even campaign workers have received death threats for raising women's issues. More than 40% of Afghanistan's 10.5 million registered voters are women.
There is no doubt that life has got better for Afghan women with the removal of the Taleban and their harsh restrictions. More than a million girls are now at school. Many are working, all of this underpinned by a new constitution enshrining equal rights with men. But for many women, things have barely changed. Many are still not allowed to work by their families, while many suffer violence at the hands of husbands and other relatives. Far too often, they find the authorities unable or unwilling to protect them because of deep-rooted social attitudes. Afghanistan's Women's Affairs Minister Habiba Sarabi says stronger laws are not enough. "Education is also very, very important. It's a fundamental thing. Changing attitudes of men, rather than women, because this is a male-dominated country and men should change their minds towards the women," she says. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-10-05 |
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