The Opportunity to Improve Women's Rights in Afghanistan

There is no question that Afghan women suffer some of the worst human rights abuses in the world. Has their situation improved since the U.S. invaded 8 years ago? To an extent, but not without serious backsliding and increased violence. The trickier question is whether the U.S. presence protects women or exacerbates violence against them, which has feminists embroiled in a heated debate. (Change.org bloggers Sarah and Una flesh out these points.) And the answer is murky.

On one side, you have people like Afghan activist and parliament member Malalai Joya calling for a withdrawal; in the other corner, the New York-based Women for Afghan Women commends the surge as a move that will offer protection. But the thing is, after months of deliberation, President Obama has decided to remain in Afghanistan for another two years at least. So the best women's rights advocates can do now is to join forces in pressuring the President, Congress, the military, and the international community to prioritize women's rights as an essential part of the war agenda.

Human Rights Watch recently released a 96-page report detailing the atrocities suffered by Afghan women and offering specific policy proposals on how to ameliorate the situation. I take heart in knowing that HRW conducted its interviews with Afghan women themselves; if anything, these are the people we should be listening to. As a result, HRW's proposals to the Afghan government and the international community are specific and attainable. The Center for American Progress took up the call on Monday, encouraging the administration to pursue women's rights as an essential piece of the U.S. strategy there, work with the Afghan government to legislate women's empowerment, and fund NGOs that help women on the ground.

Despite the U.S.'s lackluster commitment to women's rights, the plight of women is not separate from our military mission in Afghanistan. As the HRW report discusses, abuses against women in Afghan society are the result of political instability, and they point to a weak central government trying to appease conservative, religions factions. Similarly, strengthening women's rights signifies a powerful Afghan government. Women's rights and political stability go hand in hand -- making pro-women policies important foreign policy objectives.

This week is Human Rights Week. In good news, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to critics of the administration's human rights record in a speech Monday that included an emphasis on women's rights. And Senator Barbara Boxer secured $30 million for women-led NGOs in Afghanistan in the 2009 Appropriations Bill.

I personally have serious doubts about America's actual commitment to women's rights abroad and deep reservations about the ability of war to end gender violence. But, that debate is off the table right now. Groups like HRW and CAP have taken this debate out of the realm of the abstract with specific proposals that can change lives. Sign the petition here to send a letter asking government to follow CAP's suggestions and make women a priority in Afghanistan. If the U.S. is going to make a difference, it must be now.

Photo Credit: Afghan LORDU