Prepared by: Saqib FikreeBA(H) Political Science,2nd year University of Delhi

Women situation in Afghanistan

Located in central Asia Kabul is the capital of

Afghanistan. Its territory covers

652,000 km2

Population:35 millionReligion: 99% Muslims

and 1% SikhsOfficial Languages:

Pashto and Dari

Afghanistan

WOMEN AND HISTORY

afghan women before 1980s During 1980s afghan women

lived equally to the women of Europe.

First secondary female school was established in Kabul.

Every type of freedom, educational facilities existed for them.

Co-education The constitution gave women the

right to vote, and allowed them to enter politics.

The Democratic Organization of Afghan Women (DOAW) was formed. DOAW worked against illiteracy, forced marriages and bride prices.

Life during Taliban(1996-2001)

Girls were banned from schools.

Banned from workingBanned from leaving the

house without male relatives.

Banned from showing skin in public.

Banned from public speaking.

They forced women to wear the burqa.

Women after Taliban

Hamid karzai became the president of Afghanistan in 2001.

New constitution passedSchools opened for girlsWomen allowed to workChild marriage became

banned.Women recognized

politically.

Marriage

Marriage is arranged by parents.

The amount of bridge price is fixed in the laws of Afghanistan.

After the engagement the bridegroom is allowed to visit his fiancé in her father's house.

Premarital sexual relationships are prohibited.

continuesPolygamous marriageAfghanistan law permits a man

to have four wives. Divorce Afghanistan constitution

permitted divorce. Husband had to seek his wife’s

consent.InheritanceWoman could inherit half of the

property. wife inherits one-four of

property if there is no offspring.If there is then one-eight.

Women in politics

In parliamen:68/249 seats 28%

Reservation of minimum two seats were given to women in every province of Afghanistan

Four women ministers

continuesThe newly appointed

female ministers include:Minister of women’s

affairs Dilbar NazariMinister of counter-

narcotics Salamat AzimiMinister of higher

education Farida MomandMinister of labor, social

affairs, martyrs and the disabled, Nasrin Oryakhail.

Women In economic sector.30% of agricultural

activities are performed by women

Almost 20% of afghan women taking part in business, carpet industry, and private small business.

Education The Afghan Ministry of

Education estimates that there are presently 8.4 million students (40 percent of which are girls) in primary and secondary schools.

200,000 students attends college — but only 35% are women, and 65% men

33% of teachers in Afghanistan are comprised of women

Co-education is prohibited in schools, but in universities co education is familiar now

Constitution Women and men are equal Article 22 prohibits

discriminations among the citizens of Afghanistan, and declaring that both men and women are equal and have equal rights and duties before the law.

It explicitly prohibits discrimination and recognizes equal rights for men and women.

the Constitution reserves number of seats for women in Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly

Women permitted to work outside the home, to engage in political activities.

Challenges for afghan women

70% women are illiterate.

1 out of 10 children die before age 5.

1.5 millions widows in Afghanistan.

Still they are not politically dependent.

 There is a lack of decent health care for women

Child marriages.