Parliamentary Questions

WRITTEN QUESTION

Submission: Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

A recent report by Amnesty International highlights the failure of the international community and the Afghan Interim Administration to significantly improve the position of women in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that violations of women’s rights were at the top of the agenda of the coalition that overthrew the Taliban regime, initial promises were forgotten. Women in Afghanistan, due to the international community’s inability to help the Afghan state establish the rule of law for all its citizens, continue to be victims of various forms of violence, including sexual violence, domestic violence, and forced marriage. The Committee is asked what actions it intends to take in order to strengthen the efforts to build the rule of law in Afghanistan and, specifically, to combat the ongoing violations of women’s human rights.