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Afghan Presidential Candidates Debate Women’s Rights

The second televised presidential debate in Afghanistan took place Tuesday night. Four of 11 candidates participated in the debate, touching on issues like security, domestic politics, the Taliban, bureaucratic corruption, the economy, and even women’s rights.

“The people of Afghanistan have given sacrifices for democracy,” said Daoud Sultanzoy, a former member of Parliament. “Every person will have equal rights under the law.” Several other candidates have expressed strong, positive attitudes towards protecting women’s rights: Zalmai Rasul claims he will require at least 20 percent of the country’s central cabinet to be women and Ashraf Ghani claims he will involve religious scholars in defending women’s rights and eliminating violence against women.

With the help and support of the U.S. and the international community, Afghan women and girls have made steady progress in every sector of society. Previously stripped of all human rights and forced into a state of virtual house arrest, women are now 27 percent of Afghan Parliament, about 35 percent of all primary and secondary school students, and nearly 19 percent of students attending university. Since US troops will pull out in 2014, the future president and all government leaders must work hard to strengthen women’s rights and to ensure that their progress is not once again stripped away by the Taliban.

The April 5 election is the first independent election organized by Afghanistan.

Sources:

TOLONews 2/19/14; Gandhara 2/20/14; Feminist Newswire 10/10/13, 11/27/13

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