The United Nations’ Special Representative on human rights in Afghanistan, Kamel Hossain, called for an immediate expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to help ensure the establishment of stability and democratic institutions. Hossain, who has made several trips to Afghanistan, cautioned that, “Security lapses could jeopardize the whole transition process” and […]
U.S., France Reject Expansion of International Troops in Afghanistan
In spite of pleas from both the United Nations and the Afghan Administration for an expansion of the 4,800-member International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United States and France made their opposition official by telling the UN Security Council that the ISAF would not be expanded. U.S. representative James Cunningham and French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte […]
Bush Administration Limits Peacekeeping in Afghanistan
Despite pleas from Afghanistan’s interim government and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as well as thousands of email messages from women’s groups, the Bush Administration appears to have made a decision not to allow an increase in the size of the 4500-member international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, nor an expansion of that force beyond the […]
UN Commission Convenes to Discuss Empowering Women in Afghanistan and Worldwide
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women began its 46th session today at the UN headquarters in New York. During the two-week long session, the Commission will discuss empowering women worldwide. Included in this discussion will be the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan and measures to help ensure the eradication of […]
ABC’s Diane Sawyer Visits Afghanistan
Tune in tonight at 10pm (EST) as Diane Sawyer of ABC’s Primetime Live looks at life for Afghan women after the Taliban. In 1996, journalist Diane Sawyer visited Afghanistan shortly after the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital of Kabul. She spoke with five women who were fearful for their lives and living in […]
U.S. Considers Larger Peacekeeping Role in Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan, announced yesterday that the U.S. is considering options for expanding the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, expressing concern over the continuing conflict between several rival factions in Afghanistan. Possible scenarios include expanding the small 4, 500 member international peacekeeping force currently responsible for the entire country to 25,000 […]
Poppy Trade Increasing in Afghanistan, UK Awaits Strong US Response
Poppy production is feared to be on the rise again in remote parts of Afghanistan. UK officials and customs agents report that farmers, lacking other means to support their families, have already planted poppy that will be ready for harvest in June. According to the Financial Times, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and Italy are pushing […]
Biden Calls for U.S. Peacekeeping Force in Afghanistan
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, continued to urge the Bush Administration to deploy peacekeeping troops into Afghanistan to ensure the success of the new government. President Bush has repeatedly refused requests to use U.S. troops in a peacekeeping role after the current mission in Afghanistan ends. Biden, however, claims […]
Afghanistan Moving Towards Women’s Rights
At the encouragement of Afghan interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, Afghan women have returned to work in the ministries of the Afghan interim government Ð without wearing their burqas. Although not obligated to shed the head-to-toe shroud, no woman working in any of the government ministries has elected to put on the restrictive garment, required […]
Starvation Continues in Remote Areas of Afghanistan
While widespread famine may have been averted because of an outpouring of humanitarian food shipments into Afghanistan during the past four months, starvation still appears likely for some Afghans. According to the Associated Press, in the remote villages in the mountain region of Abdullah Gan, people continue to live with inadequate resources and have resorted […]
Humanitarian Relief Prevents Famine in Afghanistan
According to Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), “There will be no famine in Afghanistan this winter.” This conclusion comes after an infusion of humanitarian food supplies into the country over the past four months. The WFP alone has supplied Afghanistan with 165,000 tons of wheat since September. Most […]
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Urges More Aid, Women’s Rights
Dr. Sima Samar, the recently appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women’s Affairs for the transitional government of Afghanistan, met today with the U.S. State Department to discuss her role in the interim government that will take office December 22. Samar called on the United States to increase humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to rebuild […]
FMLA’s Mobilize Support For Women in Afghanistan
The Leadership Alliance at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA hosted a major speaking event entitled, “Ending Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan,” with special guest speakers Mavis Leno, head of the Feminist Majority’s Campaign to Help Afghan Women, and Kathy Spillar, Executive Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation. This event was co-sponsored by USC’s Unruh Institute […]
Senators Urge Inclusion of Afghan Women in Rebuilding of Afghanistan
Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (D-KS) held a press conference at the Capitol yesterday to urge the Bush Administration and the United Nations to ensure that the women of Afghanistan play a central role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Senators Boxer and Brownback, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined […]
Afghan Women: Solution for Afghanistan’s Future
By Eleanor Smeal Feminists have succeeded in drawing the world’s attention to the fact that women have been the first victims of the Taliban. We now must make it clear to the world that Afghan women are an essential part of the solution for a peaceful, democratic Afghanistan. The defeat of the Taliban means the […]
Where Are the Women: Female Experts on Afghanistan Missing from TV Media
The Washington Post reports that out of the 98 television programs to publish their guest lists in the Post this month, only 12 were to feature women as experts on the post-September 11 crises. The lack of women given airtime, however, does not correspond to women’s expertise on the issues. Television media may not be […]
Anti-Abortion Priest Convicted; Tries to Escape to Afghanistan
Reverend Norman U. Weslin, found guilty of violating a court-ordered buffer zone in front of a Buffalo, NY abortion clinic, was sentenced last week to five months in jail. At the sentencing, however, Weslin informed the court that he had contacted the Pentagon about serving as a military chaplain in Afghanistan and that the Pentagon […]
Powell Considers Post-Taliban Afghanistan
Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to discuss, among other issues, the future of Afghanistan if the Taliban is ousted as a result of the U.S.-led war on terrorism. While Powell openly condemned the Taliban, according to the Washington Post, he also suggested that aspects of the Taliban may be […]
Fate of Post-Taliban Afghanistan Uncertain
After negotiations with U.S. and other global officials, the Northern Alliance has postponed its plans to stage a takeover of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Pakistan and the United Nations have been urging that the U.S. not support a military offensive by the Northern Alliance to gain Kabul, fearing that the Alliance will assume control of […]
Many Vie for Control over Post-Taliban Afghanistan; Women’s Lives Hang in the Balance
Already in the media, debate has begun about what and who would constitute a post-Taliban Afghan government. Some favor allowing Afghanistan’s former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, negotiate a new representative government by calling a loya jirga, a grand assembly that could possibly determine Afghanistan’s new leadership if the Taliban is ousted. The Taliban has held […]
