A New Direction: $11'8 Billion

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Afghan Women Life Under A Thousand Splendid
Suns Ambassador Said T. Jawad Queen Victoria
2008 Maiden World Cruise April 2008
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Overview

• Khaled Hosseinis story of Laila Mariam
• Harsh life, long suffering, Deep love and
  determination
• Walking in Afghan woman shoes
• History of their struggle
• Accomplishments
• Political Participation
• Economic Empowerment
• Social Reforms
• Challenges implements
• Important gains in a Fragile Environment

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History Early Reforms

• Revolution of King Amanullah (1919-29)
• Queen Removing the Veil
• Female students enrolled in universities abroad
  (Turkey)
• Reforms of 1950-78
• Cautious steps under King Zaher Shah
• Decade of democracy
• Kabul University established in 1950s
• Progress in the Sixties
• Senators and Cabinet Members
• 38 of teachers
• 1/3 of Civil Servants

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HistorySetbacks, War and Violence

• Mistakes of Marxists (1978-88)
• Changing culture by decrees
• Gender equality Foreign ideology
• War uprooted women
• Refugees and Radicalization
• Photo of Sharbat Gul
• Trauma of war and million of widows
• Atrocities of Civil War (1990-96)
• Destruction of urban centers
• Women as prime victims of violence
• Setting the stage for the Taliban

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History Terror and Tyranny of Taliban (1996-2001)

• Imposed Gender Apartheid
• No access to education
• Inability to work
• Nonexistent Healthcare
• Public harassment
• Wearing of the burka enforced
• Prohibition on singing, dancing, colorful shoes,
  and laughter
• Why?
• Extremism Fear of losing Control

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New GovernmentSignificant gains in a fragile
environment
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Political ParticipationEasy Task of Equal Rights
Under New Constitution
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Political ParticipationThe Battle in the
Parliament

• Vested interest in Peace and Stability
• United and Determined
• 600 women candidates
• 68 parliamentary seats
• Women constitute 27 of Parliament
• Womens Caucus

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Political ParticipationRegaining jobs in the
Government

• Impediment culture and limited skills
• Ministry of Womens Affairs ?
• Governors, Ambassadors, Civil Servants
• Women in the Military and Police

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Economic Empowerment

• Income and jobs pillars of Social Empowerment
• Microfinance and access to credit
• Construction companies
• From fashion design to rug making and
  handicrafts
• AfghanMark Made by Afghan Women

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Brave New Faces in the Media and Art

• Women as TV producers
• Television stations by women for women
• Afghan Soap Operas against domestic violence
• Radios and print Media
• Female filmmakers and entertainers

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OutlookTime Frame of Social Change

• Do Afghan women benefit from all rights?
• Struggle for generations
• 1756 - Lydia Chapin Taft, First American woman to
  attempt to vote
• 1920 -Constitutional Amendment for Women's
  Suffrage
• Today 68 support a woman for US President
• Gov. Stevenson In America anyone can become
  President
• Need continued gradual reform led by women
• Education is the key to gender equality

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Education is Key to a Better Future

• Literacy How to get a poor and busy mother to
  the class room?
• Special Schools for married girls
• 6 million children in school 34 are girls
• 700 increase in no. of teachers 28 of teachers
  are female
• 3,500 new schools built
• 19 of our operating budget funds education
• University enrollment has grown from 4,000 in
  2002 to over 76,000
• Impediments
• Lack of hardware and software of education
• Need 30,000 additional female teachers
• New curriculum, more schools
• Security and landmines
• Poverty working street children

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Where are Afghan Women?

• Seven years ago vs. Today
• Millions going to school
• Exercising Constitutional rights
• Socially, economically and politically active
• Gender equality is a pillar of National
  Development Strategy
• Womens Shelters
• Women still face discrimination and violence
• High rate of suicide in Heart
• Still wearing Burka due to insecurity and
  uncertainty
• Need skills and income, access to better
  education
• Failure is not an option for Afghan women

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Helping Afghan Women

• Progress is due to your support
• Support organizations working for women and
  children
• Help Educate the Next Generation of female Afghan
  Leaders
• Scholarships for Afghan Women within Afghanistan
  or abroad
• Support Moderates and Moderation
• Buy products made by Afghan women
• Walk in an Afghan Womans Shoes
• Read about Afghan Women
• 3 Cups of Tea
• A Thousand Splendid Suns
• The Kite Runner

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Thank You

• www.embassyofafghanistan.org