Afghanistan has made significant progress over the last ten years, and in particular, Afghan women and girls have made great strides. Millions of girls are in school; the maternal mortality rate has dropped; and health care is being delivered to many more women and children.
The U.S. is set to withdraw the bulk of its forces from Afghanistan by 2014. This transition period is fraught with risk for Afghan women, many of whom have benefited during 10 years of improved access to education, health care, and political participation.
The Afghan Women's Network is a non-partisan network of women and women's groups working to empower Afghan women and ensure their equal participation in Afghan society. This post summarizes the Network's presentation at the NATO Summit in Chicago in May 2012.
When the UK and USA entered Afghanistan in 2001 they made a promise to improve the lives of Afghan women. In the last ten years there has been some progress in terms of education, the right to work and the freedom of movement. However much remains to be done as Afghan women continue to face gendered discrimination and violence.
As the U.S. and Britain discuss timetables for leaving Afghanistan, there is growing concern among some Afghans – particularly women – about the country the coalition will leave behind. The Daily Beast's Gayle Lemmon discusses. Video available at the source.
October marks the 10-year anniversary since the start of UK military intervention in Afghanistan.
Whilst much news on Afghanistan centres on the potential withdrawal of military troops, I would like to draw readers' attention to another aspect of the Afghan conflict – women's forgotten role in building peace.
America Abroad Media and NPR-affliate WAMU present a discussion on the state of women's rights in Afghanistan since U.S. and NATO allies invaded the country in 2001 and ousted the Taliban. The program connects speakers and audience members in Kabul and Washington D.C.
