Q: Could you please tell us your views on International Women’s Day?
A: March 8 - International Women’s Day - is a day of unity, cohesion and cooperation for all women. Throughout the world, women should help each other to fight for their rights, combat social problems and, most importantly, take their place as first-class citizens alongside men.
Governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan have celebrated this day every year since the downfall of the Taliban regime. Civil society forums expend a lot of effort to celebrate this day in proper style and the media broadcast the challenges and problems women face. Actually, it is a good initiative, but in my opinion, it would be even better and more effective if such celebrations were not limited to symbolic events and instead could bring real changes in women’s lives.
I think it would be better if the government would report its achievements on this day, and discuss their plans for the future, including the provision of health and educational facilities for women, as well as career opportunities. A purely symbolic celebration will not cure any ills.
Q: In what areas have women progressed the most over the past eight years?
A: George W. Bush often said that he would bring visible change in the lives of Afghan women after the U.S. attacked Afghanistan threw out the Taliban. But it never really happened.
But in spite of that, Afghan women have had considerable achievements with the support of the international community. For the first time, Afghanistan’s Constitution mentions gender equality, and more than 25% of the total seats in parliament are allocated to women. Women actively participated in the elections; they cast their votes and they were elected.
During the Taliban era, women could not leave their homes but now they can go to work and girls can go to school. These are all great achievements. All these steps forward were results of women’s efforts. It means that women and girls were eager to work and to go to schools and they did so when they found the opportunity.
But unfortunately, when women participated in the elections neither the international community nor the Afghan government supported them.
Q: If we look at the number of the seats allocated for women in the parliament, we understand that it is much higher than in many other countries in the world. But why did women not play an active role?
A: In my opinion, there are many reasons for this: women are not independent; there is a lack of understanding about women’s rights, and there is low capacity. These are the main factors. With very few exceptions, women are dependent on those who put tribal and ethnic interests ahead of women’s rights.
Women have tended towards tribal affiliation, and in some cases they have become involved in ethnic issues. This is another reason why 68 women within the Parliament have been unable to from a united bloc. Low capacity is another challenge for women in Parliament – this is a product of social problems, war, and illiteracy. I hope that in the upcoming parliamentary elections people will vote for women who put women’s rights ahead of ethnic interests.
Q: You were the first woman to run for president, in 2004. What challenges did you face? Did you receive the support you had hoped for?
A: When I stood in the 2004 presidential elections, my aim was to achieve the goals of the Afghan people as well as the international community; it was not to get power and reputation. I followed my goals independently, without the support of any internal parties or external countries. It was the reason that people welcomed my candidacy and the gatherings they had held for me were unique.
I had no money to spend on rallies at that time; my supporters held them voluntarily. I travelled to many provinces and met people because I believed in their support. They cast their votes for me but the result was not what I had anticipated. But on that occasion the international community’s aim was to support a particular individual, not to practice the real process of democracy.
Q: What is your opinion about dialogue with Taliban, topic that is being discussed a lot nowadays? Given the Taliban’s policies towards women, would it be acceptable for women if the Taliban were to return to power?
A: No one can live without peace and stability, and women want peace. It is acceptable for both men and women if such a dialogue takes place based on the Constitution. Neither men nor women will accept talks that are purely political and that do not take women’s rights into account.
Q: You worked as Minister of Women’s Affairs in Karzai’s administration. From your point of view, what are the main problems women face?
A: Afghan women suffer from many problems including illiteracy, harsh social and cultural conditions, poverty, physical abuse, lack of access to education and health care, and of course maternal mortality. When I was the Minister I worked hard to eliminate these problems, and I made a five-year strategy for the Ministry.
The government as well as the international community should now try to overcome these problems. We need many more health centers and schools for women and girls in remote areas. The government should keep warlords from violating women’s rights.
Also, the government should allocate additional resources for women’s affairs and the international community should force the Afghan government to pay attention to women’s issues and work hard in this regard. The government’s actions should not remain just words on paper – they should not be purely symbolic.
