Jamila

Afghanistan

Thank you Ambassador Durrant for hosting this meeting, and for offering me an opportunity to share my experience of war with you and the distinguished ambassadors today. My name is Jamila and I am the Director of the Afghan Women’s Welfare Department and a founding member of the Afghan Women’s Network, an umbrella organization of 300 women’s groups.

I have often heard that Afghan women are not political. That peace and security is man’s work. I am here to challenge that illusion. For the last 20 years of my life, the leadership of men has only brought war and suffering.

I am a woman fighting for education. In Afghanistan and Pakistan that is politics. I run a humanitarian NGO. In Afghanistan and Pakistan that is politics. My organization provides relief in the form of emergency supplies and health care, literacy and classes in English. We teach computer skills and give vocation training that helps women earn money for their families. We receive funding from foundations and governments, and through international non-profit organizations.

I began 13 years ago, when few women were able to study and we were largely restricted to our homes. I saw role models in my community who were able to make a difference in our life. Today we are many. Some organizations have moved into work on trauma counseling and rights awareness. We still face challenges within our families, particularly when men are unemployed, and from some in our community who oppose an active public role for women. We see larger grants channeled through Afghan men’s organizations and wonder why? Women’s organizations work in the refugee camps and reach out to the refugee communities in Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Quetta, where Afghan refugees do not receive UN assistance. We are the role models for our youth; we are working for security and peace.

A woman, five months pregnant, tried to escape the war. She found the borders closed. She walked for seven hours through a dangerous mountain pass. She got through, but lost her child. Everyday a younger and younger girl is forced to marry to a commander. Our children are being conscripted. When I see these things, I look for these UN Resolution to be fully realized.

Most women’s organizations do not have political affiliations and are providing humanitarian assistance to all of our people, regardless of ethnic background. We are Pushtun, Tajik, Hazara, and Uzbek. We have our family and ethnic affiliation, and our points of view come from this background — In America you say, one woman does not women make. It is the same in Afghanistan. Our work today should be supported so that we can have an active role in rebuilding the future of our country. Anyone searching for Afghan women to engage in peace does not have to look far.

Afghanistan can provide a model for Security Council Resolution 1325. I would like to highlight three areas for immediate action.

1. The Gender Advisor post played a key political role, reporting to the most senior levels. The Gender Advisor "expanded the role and contribution of women in United Nations field-based operations." When a widow with six children in desperate need for shelter, it was the Gender Advisor who got UNHCR to act. But this post has been vacant for six months and although fully funded, does not been seem important enough to be filled.
2. We are very happy that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees staff receive training to understand women’s contribution to their work. Any future UN intervention should also include training on gender for civilian and military staff. Women still need to be consulted every time a refugee camp is set up. For example, we became involved in the design of the New Shamshatoo refugee camp. We were able to redesign it so that bathes were put in the center of the camp, near the refugee’s homes. Now, women are much less likely to be attacked. This is the United Nations opportunity to address gender from the outset. How could it be avoided in our country, or declared irrelevant?
3. Women must be consulted in peace negotiations and peace building. Several Afghan women and I met with Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi last week and asked for his support. I remind you that 54% of the Afghan population are women and girls. We hope the Security Council will support us, too. The United Nations should ensure that women are protected and safe.

Do not think that because women wear a veil we do not have a voice. When the UN is looking for leaders look to us. We want an Afghanistan free of extremism, in all its forms. We remember a time when women were doctors, lawyers and judges. Tap our networks that reach and assist women and their families. Women must be included in any peace building efforts to ensure peace and lasting security.