Two new recent U.S. intelligence reports, called National Intelligence Estimates, which represent 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, highlighted many of the challenges in Afghanistan, while also showing some progress against the Taliban has been made. However the chances of successfully putting an end to the insurgency in the country have been limited by the Pakistan’s inability secure their border and shut down militant operations inside the country’s tribal areas (NY Times).
However what the reports didn’t highlight on was the other battle raging on in Afghanistan for gender equality. While the issues of women and girls in the country may appear to many to be a cultural issue, it is more of a security issue then often discussed. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently stated, “Women’s equality is not just a moral issue, it’s not just a humanitarian issue, it is not just a fairness issue,” but a security, prosperity and peace issue (CNN). The State Department is placing more focus on the issue in a State Department 2010 Diplomacy and Development Review, which will assess the role of U.S. foreign policy.
The issue of gender inequality and abuse is global and one that continues to plague Afghanistan, as forced marriages, honor killings, “horse-trading” to settle disputes and heavily placed movement restrictions continue to be placed by Afghan society on the country’s women and girls. Discrimination and abuses are heavily prevalent in rural areas where many families still restrict public interaction of their mothers, daughters, wives and sisters. Many girls are denied a basic education and numerous school for girls have been burned down. Nonetheless gender equality has improved since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001 both politically and culturally. The recently adopted Afghan constitution states that “the citizens of Afghanistan – whether man or woman- have equal rights and duties before the law”, which has enabled women to return to work and ended the requirement of women to wear a burqa, the challenges remain. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan recently warned in a report, that while the Afghan government recently passed legislation to increase protection for Afghan women and girls, there is little will or enforcement. The report urges the government to increase the enforcement of laws that protect women and girls. These gender-based discriminatory customs are often supported by religious leaders, the report says, even though the practices are inconsistent with Islamic law (Washington Post).
However sometimes the advancements come in less traditional ways, one such success is the Afghan national women’s soccer team, who traveled to Bangladesh to participate in their first international competition (NY Times). A victory all its on, as women’s sports were banned under the Taliban years.
