2004-3-28
This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English Development
Report.
Reports from western Afghanistan say at least fifty young women
have killed themselves in recent months. In each case, they set
themselves on fire.
Poverty, forced marriage, limited
rights to education, violence against women, a sense of
hopelessness. These are all given as reasons for an increase in
cases of self-immolation. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has sent a
delegation to Herat province to investigate.
Medica Mondiale is a German-based organization that supports
women and girls in crisis situations. The group has started to
organize projects in Kabul and Herat in an effort to improve the
lives of women. It says many do not believe their lives have
improved since the ouster of the Taleban more than two years ago.
The Islamic Taleban group ruled Afghanistan for five years. Women
could not work or study. They could not leave their homes unless
they had a male with them. And they were forced to wear a cloth
burqa that covered all of their body.
American-led forces began a campaign in October of
two-thousand-one to oust the Taleban and to attack al-Qaida bases in
Afghanistan. This followed the September eleventh terrorist attacks
by the al-Qaida group on the United States.
With the Taleban out of power, women regained their right to work
and study. But Medica Mondiale says many still face oppression in
parts of the country. Tribal leaders control these areas.
In January of this year, delegates at a traditional meeting
called a Loya Jirga approved a new constitution for Afghanistan. The
document guarantees equal rights for women. It also guarantees a
strong representation of women in the future parliament. Women's
Affairs Minister Habiba Sarabi says she plans to set up family
courts. She also plans to open centers to assist women around the
country.
The governor of Herat, Ismail Khan, recently launched a media
campaign to urge women to seek help. Husbands are also urged to show
more consideration toward their wives.
Human rights experts note that social changes can take many
years, especially in conservative societies. They say a good place
to start is to teach females to understand their rights. But they
say even more important is that males must also understand those
rights.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill
Moss. This is Robert Cohen.