Resolution Says Afghan Women Have Right
to Help Rebuild Country

H. Con. Res. 268 Submitted to House of Representatives Nov. 13

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:

107th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. CON. RES. 268

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 13, 2001

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 --

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

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

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