CALL FOR ACTION BY THE WOMEN ON THE ROAD FOR AFGHANISTAN

 

DUSHANBE - TADJIKISTAN - June 28, 2000

 

 

We, a group of 45 people, of whom 43 are woman of various nationalities (Algerian, French, American and Spanish) have come to Dushanbe on June 27 and 28 2000, as individuals or representatives of women’s organizations. Women on the Road for Afghanistan is part of the Worldwide March of Women taking place five years after the Beijing Conference on Women. Here in Dushanbe, we met with more than two hundred Afghan refugee women who have fled the war in Afghanistan. They came to this meeting to give witness to and write up their « Declaration of the Fundamental Rights of Afghan Women ».

 

After hearing the direct testimonies of these women and taking into consideration the reports made by international organizations investigating the war in Afghanistan, we hereby state that we consider the vicious oppression of Woman in Afghanistan to be as serious an issue as the training of terrorists or drug trafficking.

 

Therefore, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, DENOUNCE :

 

   The barbaric acts and massive attacks on fundamental rights committed against the women of Afghanistan by the Taliban regime

   The suppression of freedom to move about, to work and to access healthcare

   The attacks on woman’s dignity and invasion of private and family life, attacks that cause irreparable physical and mental damage and international crimes against humanity

   The cynical pretence of the Taliban regime that claims to subscribe to the international laws protecting the rights of women and men

   The international drug traffic by the Taliban representing 80 % of the world production of heroin

   The fact that the zones controlled by the Taliban have become and epicenter generating international terrorism which has become a threat to democracics

   The « neutrality » of the international community and international organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

WE THE UNDERSIGNED SUPPORT :

 

The declaration of Afghan Women that their fundamental rights be respected.

The resistance of all Afghans to the Taliban regime.

 

In relation to the above, we, acting as individuals and representatives of organizations solemnly call upon :

 

DEMOCRATIC NATIONS

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

1 - To publicly support the Afghan Women’s Declaration of Rights written in Dushanbe on June 28 ^Th. 2000 by the Afghan women meeting there

2 - To urgently carry out actions that will favour the establishment of a democratic system in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

DECLARATION OF THE ESSENTIAL RIGHTS OF AFGHAN WOMEN

 

DUSHANBE, TADJIKISTAN

June 28, 2000

 

 

SECTION A

 

Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the international statements addressing the rights of women listed in Section II of this document, are systematically trampled in Afghanistan today.

 

Considering that all the rules imposed by the Taliban concerning women are in total opposition to the international convention cited in Section II of this document.

 

Considering that torture and inhumane and degrading treatment imposed by the Taliban on women, as active members of society, have put Afghan society in danger.

 

Considering that the dally violence directed against the women of Afghanistan causes, for cash one of them, a state of profound distress.

 

Considering that, under conditions devoid of their rights, women find themselves and their children in a situation of permanent danger.

 

Considering that discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity and language is the source of insults, beatings, stoning and other forms of violence.

 

Considering that poverty and the lack of freedom of movement pushes women into prostitution, involuntary exile, forced marriages, and the selling and trafficking of their daughters.

 

Considering the severe and tragic conditions of more than twenty years of war in Afghanistan.

 

SECTION II

 

The Declaration which follows is derived from the following documents :

 

   United Nations Charter

   Universal Declaration of Human Rights

   International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

   International Covenant en Civil and Political Rights

   Convention on the Rights of the Child

   Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

   Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women

   The Human Rights of Women

   The Beijing Declaration

   The Afghan Constitution of 1964

   The Afghan Constitution of 1977

 

SECTION III

 

The fundamental right of Afghan women, as for all human beings, is life with dignity, which includes the following rights :

 

1 - The right to equality between men and women and the right to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and segregation, based on gender, race or religion

 

2 - The right to personal safety and to freedom from torture or inhumane or degrading treatment.

 

3 - The right to physical and mental health  for women and their children.

 

4 - The right to equal protection under the law.

 

5 - The right to institutional education in all the intellectual and physical disciplines

 

6 - The right to just and favourable conditions of work.

 

7 - The right to move about freely and independently.

 

8 - The right to freedom of thought, speech, assembly and political participation

 

9 - The right to wear or not to wear the veil or the scarf.

 

10 - The right to participate in cultural activities including theatre, music and sports.

 

SECTION IV

 

This Declaration developed by Afghan women is a statement, affirmation and emphasis of those essential rights that we Afghan women owe for ourselves and for all other Afghan women. It is a document that the State of Afghanistan must respect and implement.

 

This document, at this moment in time, is a draft that, in the course of time, will be amended and completed by Afghan women.

 

^{SIGNATAIRES DE l’APPEL DE DOUCHANBE}

^{ABU GHEIDA Betty Ecrivain}

^{BARBIER Martine Association « Amélie Zurcher »}

^{BORDE Constance Women Caucus}

^{BOUZEGHRANE Nadjia Journaliste}

^{CAGNAT Bérangère Journaliste}

^{CARDONNE Gérard Ecrivain}

^{CASERO Agnès Journaliste}

^{CAUSSE Françoise Journaliste}

^{CAZAUX Elizabeth Collectif « Liberté en Afghanistan »}

^{CONINCK (de) Dominique Association NEGAR}

^{ELTIGANI Azza Association Femmes Soudanaises}

^{ENAYAT-SERAJ Leïla}

^{FREMONT Lucette Femmes Solidaires}

^{GOLDSTEIN Ritta Women’s Caucus}

^{GRANDSARD Ellen Psychologue}

^{GROSS Nasrine Ecrivain}

^{GUILLAUMAUD-PUJOL Claude Professeur}

^{HAÎDAR Shoukria NEGAR}

^{KALED Maliha Afghanistan Bretagne}

^{LACABE Maria-Félicidad Association « Femmes démocrates Espagnoles »}

^{LALONDE Patricia Collectif « Liberté en Afghanistan » NEGAR}

^{LEBOW Diane Journaliste - Ecrivain}

^{LEROY Martine Femmes Solidaires}

^{LYMAN Mollie Women’s Caucus}

^{MARSAUDON Sophie Journaliste}

^{MESSAOUDI Khalida Députée}

^{MICHEL Arlette Chef d’entreprise}

^{MILDENBERGER Mary-Ellen Collectif «Liberté en Afghanistan»}

^{MINCE Juliette Ecrivain}

^{POUNTNEY Mirial - Association Afghanistan Europe}

^{QUIN Mary-Patricia Présidente « Cent Héroïnes » and Feminist Majority Foundation}

^{SARAHAT-ROSHANE Leïla Poêtesse}

^{SCHAFFER Ellie Association Sarajevo}

^{SHARIF Orzala Association « Femmes Afghanes »}

^{SHER-JAN Hassina Journaliste USA}

^{SUGIER Annie Présidente Atlanta Sydney Plus}

^{Princesse Amélia TARZI}

^{TOURNOUX Odile Ecrivain}

^{TUINIGA Marlène Journaliste}

^{VERON Chantal Professeur}

^{ZULFACAR Maliha Psychologue - USA}