Report
Conference in Kunduz on
„Women and Politics: New Opportunities and Challenges“
9th
August 2004 in Hotel Kunduz
Partner: Mediothek Afghanistan, Kunduz
Aims:
· to give women a platform to express and discuss
their ideas about their role in politics
· to create an awareness of common political aims
amongst women and to encourage women to work together
for women’s rights beyond ethnic, ideological and
social divides
· to show the new opportunities for Afghan women
to participate in politics
· to encourage women to become politically active
· to discuss practical steps for the implementation
of equal rights for women that the new constitution guarantees
Topics:
· Information on women’s rights in the constitution,
on the election process and on the role of the new parliament
· Identifying the new chances and obstacles for
women to participate in politics
· Discussion on how men and women should work together
in politics
· Assessing ways how women can form networks beyond
ethnic, ideological and social divides
· Assessing advantages and disadvantages of running
for parliament as an independent candidate or as a party
member
· Defining the steps that should be taken next
in order to increase women’s influence in decision-making
processes
Target
Groups:
Male and female members of political and civil society
groups as well as from the government were invited to
the conference. 25% of the invitees were men with the
aim of raising awareness amongst men for the topic and
also to promote cooperation between politically active
men and women. 286 people registered at the conference.
About one fourth of them were men.
While
most participants came from Kunduz province, women from
surrounding provinces such as Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan
and Samangan were invited to function as multipliers in
their home communities.
Detailed
description:
The conference was the first of its kind in Kunduz since
the end of Taliban rule in late 2001. As the topic of
“women and politics” was very new to most
participants, the focus was on providing basic information
on the current political process and on giving women a
platform for an initial exchange of ideas. The unexpectedly
high number of participants (300 were invited, 286 came)
showed the strong interest in this topic.
The conference was opened by the Commander of the 6th
Corps of the National Armee, General Mohammad Daoud, who
was the highest-ranking participant due to the absence
of Governeur Eng. Omar. Gen. Daoud stressed the need of
participation of women in politics and encouraged women
to be brave enough to do so. At the same time, he saw
a major progress for women’s participation in politics
in the past two years, pointing to Massouda Jalal’s
candidacy in the presidential elections.
Opening
remarks by the Deputy Governeur Haschimi Haschimi and
representatives of FES and the provincial reconstruction
team (PRT) were followed by an input phase. Information
was given on women’s rights in the constitution,
on the election process and on the role of the new parliament
and on the activities of the Ministry of Women Affairs
in the north.
The
following discussion phase started with a panel on the
opportunities and challenges for women in Afghan politics.
The mullah of Kunduz, Maulawi Rishad, argued that Islam
allowed women to participate in politics. He compared
the government with a family that was ruled by men and
women together. He also suggested that not the Islam,
but certain Afghan traditions limited the particpation
of women.
The
dean of Baghlan University, Ms. Nafaz Jahed, pointed to
the economic dependence of women as a major obstacle to
participate equally in politics and called on women to
struggle for more independence from men, a point that
raised some criticism from local mullahs and other men
in the aftermath. She also warned that women were often
misused as symbols in politics without having real influence
on decision-making. Remarks like this met with protest
from some men, who perceived the conference as being against
men, rather than in favor of women’s empowerment.
The head of the Kunduz Young Girls Association, Fatima
Mohammadi, gave a charismatic speech, criticising a culture
of intolerance amongst women which she identified as the
main limitation for women to become involved in politics.
The
panel was followed by two dialogue forums with only two
panelists each, focussing on very concrete questions:
1.) In which way did women work together in the Loya Jirga
beyond ethnic, ideological and social divides? 2.) What
are the differences of running for parliament as independent
candidate or party member? The speakers of the first dialogue,
the loya jirga delegates Muslima and Habiba, stressed
that women did form coalitions when it came to women’s
rights. But they also suggested that certain political
factions tried to prevent women from working together.
In the second dialgue the speakers stressed the need for
parties in a democratic system. At the same time they
pointed to the male-centred nature of Afghan parties that
makes it difficult for women to be active party members.
Due
to the very different perspectives of the panelists, the
debates were quite controversial. One particularly controversial
point was the issue of divorce. Some male speakers argued
that the low percentage of divorces in Afghanistan was
an indication for harmonious relations between men and
women. Adela Mohseni (NDI) and Ms. Jahed rejected this
interpretation and called for more economical independence
for women and the possibility for women to divorce. This
issue even triggered debates in town after the broadcasting
of a report of the conference on local TV. The open way
in which this debate was held can be considered a major
success of the conference. In fact, the event had an impact
well beyond the region as it was broadcasted on Radio
TV Afghanistan in Kabul as well.
Apart
from women from the region, FES invited some speakers
from Kabul. This had a positive effect on the discussion,
bringing new impulses and encouraging an exchange of ideas
between the capital and the Northern provinces.
Due
to the lack of experience with the topic, the panel discussions
were quite unfocussed. The conference should be seen as
a first step that should be followed by more focussed
discussions on concrete strategies to increase the influence
of women in decision-making processes.
16/08/2004
Friederike Boege
