NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. government hasn't done enough to promote women's rights in Iraq and Afghanistan, three women's organizations said Thursday.
| Other than liberate them from Saddam and Mullah Omar, you mean. |
The criticism came as the Feminist Majority, the Women's Environment and Development Organization, and the Center for Health and Gender Equality released their Global Women's Issues Scorecard.
| Wonder if these old biddies have an agenda? |
U.S. officials have been strong in their verbal support for including women's rights in the Afghan constitution, Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority, said in a telephone conference. "But strong statements have not been met with actual action."
| We could force them at the point of a rifle, but that wouldn't work long-term. Not that Eleanor would know anything about that either. |
She argued that women's rights are threatened by Afghan efforts to make family law subject to Islamic codes, by insecurity and the rise of militias, and by the U.S. failure to give Eleanor everything she wants now, including a pony spend on reconstruction.
| Anytime the fierce old bats at NOW want to take on the Taliban, fine with me. |
The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment.
"Marvin! What's our response to these saintly ladies?"
"Ignore them, Mr. Secretary?"
"That never works with Eleanor. C'mon, I need something here."
"You could laugh in her face."
"Much as I'd like to, that's no good either."
"I'm fresh out, sir." |
June Zeitlin, head of the New York-based Women's Environment and Development Organization, said that in Iraq, women's participation in the transitional leadership has been very limited, despite pledges by the U.S.-led coalition to promote it. "I think the administration just doesn't get it," she said. "They are speaking about women's rights and participation. I think they have underestimated the extremism (opposing women's rights) ... in both societies."
| We didn't under-estimate it, we knew going in what it would be. But go ahead June, you persaude Sistani to include more women in the Shi'a leadership. |
Iraqi women have achieved some victories - for example, a clause in the interim constitution that sets a goal of 25 percent women's representation under the future elected government. But they have done so largely by demanding it themselves in street demonstrations, Zeitlin said, adding that U.S. officials didn't favor a quota system.
| Eeeek! They did it themselves? They didn't have Eleanor there to demand it for them? I'm having the vapors, I'd best go lie down! |
"Experience around the world shows that without quotas, women have not achieved critical mass" in politics, she said.
| Just like here in the U.S. ... er, no, that's not right, I mean, just like in the U.K., ... um, no, I mean France, oh wait ... |
|