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Make Women's Rights a Priority in Afghanistan
  1. Signatures
    221 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
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      • The President of the United States
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    Pema Levy
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

Women in Afghanistan suffer some of the worst human rights violations in the world. As a recent Human Rights Watch report signifies, the situation for women is dire, and risks becoming worse. Among many atrocities:

 - Over 87% of women face physical abuse, rape, or forced marriages.

 - Only 4% of girls make it to 10-12th grade.

 - Women in the public sphere are targeted by threats of violence, violence, and assassinations.

 - 57% of marriages are classified as child marriages (under the age of 16); 70-80% of these are forced.

Now that Obama has signaled his commitment to remain in Afghanistan through 2011, this is the time when we should act to help these women. As the Human Rights Watch states:

 "While the world focuses on the Obama administration's new security strategy, it's critical to make sure that women's and girls' rights don't just get lip service while being pushed to the bottom of the list by the government and donors."

If you believe that women's rights should be a priority of our Afghanistan policy, sign this petition to tell the President and Congress to keep their promise to Afghan women.

Recent Signatures

Make Women's Rights a Priority in Afghanistan

Dear President Obama and Members of Congress,

As we begin an escalation of the war in Afghanistan, if is important to remember that a core goal of that mission be to make Afghanistan a more tolerant and equal society for women and girls. Increased women's rights, equality, and physical safety will come with political stability and the defeat of the Taliban. However, there are specific actions that can be taken immediately to ensure that the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan improve immediately. Women in Afghanistan suffer some of worst human rights abuses in the world. Therefore, while their cause weighs on our conscience, we are lucky to have realistic and practical measures to make a meaningful difference in women's lives.

In accordance with recent recommendations from the Center for American Progress, we suggest that you begin the process of protecting and empowering Afghan women with the following actions:

- The President and Congress should put both public and private pressure on the Afghan government to pass legislation protecting women. In particular, they should pressure against a weakening of the Elimination of Violence Against Women law, which is currently under threat.

- The U.S. and Afghan governments should make clear that women's rights will not be a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Taliban.

- Use pressure to ensure that the justice system, from the police and military on the ground through the courts, takes steps to address the bias against women. Cases of violence against women get thrown out. On the ground, including women's rights into the training of Afghan soldiers and police is an important step towards protecting women's rights.

- Fund NGO's in Afghanistan. Senator Barbara Boxer included in the FY2009 Appropriations Bill funding for nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan run by women. Congress should increase this spending, ideally setting up a permanent fund for women on the ground. This will allow women, who understand their situation best, help each other. Funding women's efforts and allowing them to set their own priorities will increase their autonomy, ability to control their future, and improve their quality of life.

Following these preliminary steps will ensure that the lives of women in Afghanistan improve. This should be a moral goal as well as a practical war aim.

Thank you for your consideration.

[Your name]