Humanitarian Report 1997

Gender issues in Afghanistan

Gender issues in Afghanistan The economic and social conditions that affect the status of women in Afghanistan fall well below international standards. Afghanistan ranks last on the list of 130 countries in the UNDP Gender-Related Development Index, which tracks issues such as female literacy, income, life expectancy and school enrolment1. Afghan women have also been put at risk by the internal conflict which began in 1979. In November 1995, announcements were made by the Taliban movement restricting the education and employment of women in some parts of Afghanistan under their control. More recently, and particularly since the take-over of Kabul by the Taliban in September 1996, the Taliban have enacted measures severely limiting the human rights of women and, in particular, their access to education and health. Most female local staff of United Nations agencies and NGOs except for those employed in the health sector have not been permitted to work. Their exclusion not only makes the implementation of relief and development programmes difficult, but also seriously affects the longer-term development of the society as a whole. For example, the education sector, where the majority of teachers are women, is being substantially weakened. In October 1996, the Secretary-General called for the respect of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and stressed the "single, [UN] system-wide policy on the question of gender equality". In resolution 51/195 of 17 December 1996, the General Assembly denounced "discrimination against girls and women and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law" and noted "with deep concern possible repercussions on international relief and reconstruction programmes in Afghanistan". This situation and the "conditionality of aid" have been the subject of much debate. UNICEF has declared that no education programme will be supported unless access is given to both male and female students. Little progress has been made in ensuring access of women to education and employment. While exceptions to the Taliban restrictions have been reported in some areas, when Afghan schools opened in March 1997, very few girls were permitted to enter. By contrast, in Kabul and other Taliban-controlled areas, WFP has been able to implement bakery and carpet weaving projects expressly for widows which, as food-for-work projects, have allowed women to continue to be involved in the planning and implementation of assistance programmes. Agencies are struggling to find ways to continue their work while meeting the needs of all members of Afghan society. The International Forum for Assistance to Afghanistan stressed that further "programme options" must be developed which are acceptable both to the Afghan authorities and to donors. To help develop a strong system-wide policy on this issue, a DHA team recently concluded a visit to Afghanistan and its findings will help IASC and the United Nations agree on a unified and clear position for the international community. Note: 1 Human Development Report 1995, UNDP, New York.