13 November 2001

Resolution Says Afghan Women Have Right to Help Rebuild Country

Two U.S. congresswomen from the Republican and Democratic parties agree that the women of Afghanistan should help rebuild their war-torn country following years of Taliban misrule.

Representative Constance Morella (Republican of Maryland) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 268 (H. Con. Res. 268) November 13 to the House of Representatives, where the proposed resolution was referred to the House International Relations Committee.

Joining Morella in submitting H. Con. Res. 268 as a co-sponsor was Representative Carolyn Maloney (Democrat of New York).

H. Con. Res. 268 would express the sense of Congress that "women from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan should participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan."

The two lawmakers in their resolution say that under Taliban misrule "women have become one of the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, accounting for 75 percent or more of all Afghan refugees."

H. Con. Res. 268 urges that a portion of the humanitarian assistance provided to Afghanistan "should be targeted to Afghan women and their organizations," and that Afghan women "from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan should be permitted to participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan."

The proposed resolution states that, "any constitution or legal structure of a reconstructed Afghanistan should guarantee the human and political rights of Afghan women."

The proposed resolution notes that in 1977 "women comprised more than 15 percent of the Loya Jirga, the Afghan national legislative assembly."

Following is the text of House Concurrent Resolution 268 from the Congressional Record:

Expressing the sense of Congress that women from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan should participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Mrs. Morella (for herself and Mrs. MALONEY of New York) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Concurrent Resolution

Expressing the sense of Congress that women from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan should participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan.

• Whereas until 1996 women in Afghanistan enjoyed the right to be educated, work, vote, and hold elective office;

• Whereas women served on the committee that drafted the Constitution of Afghanistan in 1964;

• Whereas during the 1970s women were appointed to the Afghan ministries of education, health, and law;

• Whereas in 1977 women comprised more than 15 percent of the Loya Jirga, the Afghan national legislative assembly;

• Whereas during the war with the Soviet Union as many as 70 percent of the teachers, nurses, doctors, and small business owners in Afghanistan were women;

• Whereas in 1996 the Taliban stripped the women of Afghanistan of their most basic human and political rights;

• Whereas under Taliban rule women have become one of the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, accounting for 75 percent or more of all Afghan refugees;

• Whereas a study conducted by Physicians for Human Rights and released in May 2001 indicates that more than 90 percent of Afghan men and women believe that women should have the right to receive an education, work, freely express themselves, enjoy legal protections, and participate in the government; and

• Whereas restoring the human and political rights that were once enjoyed by Afghan women is essential to the long-term stability of a reconstructed Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

• a portion of the humanitarian assistance provided to Afghanistan should be targeted to Afghan women and their organizations;

• Afghan women from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan should be permitted to participate in the economic and political reconstruction of Afghanistan; and

• any constitution or legal structure of a reconstructed Afghanistan should guarantee the human and political rights of Afghan women.