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Afghanistan

Afghanistan to work out national plan on women's rights

KABUL, March 27, Mar 27, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Afghan government has launcheda massive consultation with different authorities to work out a national plan on protecting and ensuring women's rights in the post-conflict country, an Afghan official said Sunday here.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs began promoting the movement after a governmental delegation attended the Beijing Plus Ten Conference in New York from Feb. 28 to March 14, an annual meeting between UN member states and civil society representatives reviewing issues affecting women and girls.

"As a result, the Ministry launched a three-month consultative process with government ministries and Afghan NGOs on generating a National Plan of Action for the Women of Afghanistan," Monema Mansour, the media official from the Ministry of Women's Affairs, told the press.

The Afghan government has committed to promoting women's rights in the post-Taliban rebuilding process since 2001. The recent appointment of Habiba Sorabi, the first female governor of central Bamiyan province and in Afghanistan's history, along with four other high level female officials in Karzai's current cabinet, is regarded as a milestone for women's involvement in politics in the conservative Islamic country.

However, only a small percentage of women have gained working opportunities throughout the country while most of women in remote rural areas were still deprived of their rights.

A human rights watch organization based in Washington reported this month that widespread abuses of women and children were prevailing in regional militia dominated parts.

"The National Plan of Action will bring Afghanistan in line with its international commitment to eradicate gender inequalities in the country," Mansour said.