[Tolo News] Afghan women's rights will never be sacrificed in peace talks with the Taliban, President Karzai said speaking at women's day ceremony on Tuesday.During his speech the President pointed out to mounting violence against women and urged religious leaders to help reduce the violence.
President Karzai said women protection centres will never be closed, but funding to safe houses should be channeled through finance ministry.
"I want to assure you all that our constitutional achievements, our gains towards promotion and our gains in terms of Afghan women will not be hurt or blunted, but these gains will be even strengthened to bring peace to Afghanistan," Karzai said.
Presently, there are twelve safe houses for women functioning in Afghanistan to provide shelter to victims of violence. The houses are funded by international and national organisations.
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon's special representative to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura, who was also participating in the ceremony, said women's rights will never be ignored in peace discussions with the Taliban. "There are certain achievements of the democracy and frankly of human rights
... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you...
in Afghanistan that cannot be lost. The Afghans will not want to do that. Any type of peace discussion needs will and needs to take place now, because there is no military solution, but cannot sacrifice what is really being achieved for the women in Afghanistan," Mr De Mistura said.
"I have heard many messages that the Taliban themselves, who are Afghans, have learnt a lot of lessons from the past and are today I hope understanding that the Afghan women need to be part of the future of this country," De Mistura further said.
President Karzai used the ceremony to call on the Taliban to stop civilian killings.
The Taliban have grabbed credit for recent deadly attacks that caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians, but President Karzai pointing out to Jalalabad Kabul Bank raid said if the Taliban are not involved in the incident, they should make it clear without any fear. Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
Maria Bashir, an Afghan woman
| That seems an odd Christian name for an Afghan woman... |
Maria Bashir and nine other Afghan women are expected to receive the award from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another George C. Marshall...