Abdullah assails govt for failure on women’s rights

KABUL could further worsen the women situation as the parleys lacked transparency.

In his message on International Women’s Day read out at a gathering in Kabul, the coalition head, Abdullah Abdullah, criticised the government for failing to empower women despite receiving huge funds from the international community for the purpose.

“The government has not only failed to work for the development of women, but the peace talks it has started with the Taliban are not transparent,” the former foreign minister said.

Expressing his deep concern over the increasing violence against women, Abdullah said the rights of women in Afghanistan were being usurped and exploited due to the lack of a clear and comprehensive policy on their rights.

“We should not blame other countries for the backwardness and problems in our country. I believe, one of the reasons behind the current situation in Afghanistan is non-participation of women in political process,” a member of the coalition Syed Navid Ziwari, said.

Meanwhile, 300 women rallied in central Bamyan on Thursday, demanding their rights and gender equality.

“Afghanistan has a male dominant society, where women have less participation in political and social matters,” Zainab, one of the participants, said.

Governor Habiba Surabi also participated in the rally, but she did not speak. Her deputy, Mohammad Asif Mubaligh, stressed the need for efforts at ensuring gender equality and active social and political role for women.

frm/ma

Visits: 2