Minister
for Women’s Affairs,
Excellencies,
Ladies,
Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to congratulate all the ladies here present
and everywhere in Afghanistan on this beautiful day. It’s your
day.
International Women's Day is first and foremost the occasion to celebrate
and honour women’s achievements across the world. I am thinking
of every single woman in this country; I am thinking of those women
who have contributed to the elaboration of the Interim National Action
Plan for Women, which has been launched by Dr. Jalal [Minister for Women’s
Affairs] today, and I am thinking of the women, who are now members
of the Wolesi Jirga, the Meshrano Jirga and the Provincial Councils,
representing the women and men of Afghanistan.
They all will be making important and long-lasting decisions guiding
peace and development in Afghanistan.
Given the oppression from which Afghan women emerged in late 2001 –
which was one of the reasons for the huge international intervention
in Afghanistan – the gains they have made in the past years, including
the legal, political and educational areas, are significant.
Looking
at national legislation, the Afghanistan Compact signed six weeks ago
at the London Conference and its principle of achieving gender equality,
the Millenium Development Goals Report and the Interim Afghanistan National
Development Strategy, I would like to commend the Government of Afghanistan
for aiming at creating the necessary legal and political framework for
women to achieve their full potential.
Progress in stabilizing Afghanistan’s system of governance contributed
to the enhancement of women’s participation in the political progress,
resulting in a high female voter turnout in both elections and a considerable
representation of women in both chambers of Parliament and in the Provincial
Councils.
However, Afghanistan has a tremendous task before it as the situation
of women and girls remains of serious concern across a range of sectors.
For example, unlike all other countries in the world, the life expectancy
for women is lower than that for men, forty-four years. In their private
lives, women are subjected to many forms of gender-based violence and
violation of their human rights, which remain one of the most pervasive
barriers to women’s empowerment and gender equality. Many of these
abuses occur within a culture of impunity for the perpetrators.
There are dramatic disparities in school enrolment of girls and in facilities
for girls’ education compared to those for boys, especially in
rural areas. The traditional role of women is still a major constraint
to their equitable participation in public life and economic activities.
Women must have the same rights and responsibilities as men have. They
must work and live in an environment which allows their talents and
skills to flourish. Women – constituting half of the population
– need to be empowered to equally participate in public life.
The theme adopted by the UN for the observance of this year’s
International Women’s Day is “Women in Decision-making.”
What does this mean in the Afghan context? Resolute action must be taken
to achieve measurable improvement in the social and economic situation
of women and girls in Afghanistan; efforts must be strengthened to promote
and facilitate the full, effective and equal participation of women
at all levels and in all spheres of life, including decision-making
at all levels.
To this end, we must invest in women’s capacity building, including
through equal access to education and training, to enable them to participate
fully in all societal sectors; support the equal right of women to work
and strengthen efforts to promote their reintegration in employment
in all sectors; ensure that gender perspectives are mainstreamed into
all policies and programmes of both the Government of Afghanistan and
international community.
The
Interim National Action Plan for Women of Afghanistan, which is launched
today, addresses these issues, especially highlighting the need to promote
women’s leadership to guarantee their full and equal participation
in any sphere of life.
Therefore, I commend the Government of Afghanistan and the Ministry
for Women’s Affairs for the development of the Interim National
Action Plan for Women and its launch on the occasion of this year’s
women’s day.
I believe that the implementation of the National Action Plan for Women,
which - according to the Afghanistan Compact - needs to be implemented
by end 2010, is crucial for the advancement of the political, social
and economic role of women in Afghanistan.
Particularly, I would like to congratulate the Ministry for Women’s
Affairs for successfully leading the process of inter-ministerial consultations
for the drafting of the interim plan.
Today’s launching of the plan shows the importance of a strong
governmental institution leading and coordinating the Government’s
efforts to advance the role of women in all spheres of life in Afghanistan.
However, this responsibility does not lie with the Ministry for Women’s
Affairs alone. It is the work and responsibility of all ministries,
and of all the women and men in Afghanistan.
Peace and security, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the achievement
of justice and equality for all, women and men alike, demands the full
participation and commitment of all Afghans.
Ladies, I encourage you to start the consultation process, involving
civil society and the international community, for the elaboration of
the definite National Action Plan for Women.
The United Nations and the international community, remain committed
to support the government and the women and men of Afghanistan in achieving
its full implementation, in achieving equal rights for men and women
of Afghanistan.
Thank
you!
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