GENDER RELATED ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS IN POST CONFLICT AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

In this report, the post-conflict scenario in Afghanistan would be discussed. The war between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan National Army has ended. President Ghani has left Kabul and Taliban have captured the capital city. Every individual has been affected by the two decades long war. Among the effected people, the most suffered segment of society is the women of Afghanistan. The women in the conflict ridden country have been affected in so many ways. They have been removed from jobs and left unemployed. Jobs and other economic activities have been banned including ban on women entrepreneurship. Similarly, a central consultative body and interim cabinet have been formed by the new rulers: Taliban. They have not included even a single woman from the whole country in the cabinet. Moreover, even after the capture of Kabul, women have been subjected to physical violence and sexual abuses. They have been physically tortured and assaulted. Even today, women are compelled to live a miserable life in refugee camps. They have also been deprived of the most fundamental rights like non availability of health facilities and educational facilities. They are also denied freedom of movement which is a fundamental right according to the Human Rights Charter of 1948. To bring ease to the lives of people and to make lives of people especially women better, reforms are needed. To make the economy of the country healthier, women must be allowed to participate in economic activities. They should be allowed to do jobs and run their own businesses. Similarly, they should be given political rights including special quota seats in the Central Shura or Consultative Body. They should be included in political negotiations as according to international relations theories, women are more peaceful than men. Moreover, their fundamental rights should be protected through constitution. Basic fundamental rights should be provided, for instance, health and education infrastructure should be established. Women should be allowed to go to schools, colleges and universities. Women’s dignity must be protected and they should be protected from being sexually abused. This report would discuss the above mentioned dimensions of human rights and women rights in detail supported by facts and figures.