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Afghanistan (Learn
More) is a dangerous place. Since the Soviet invasion in
1979, this nation has suffered from war and civil unrest. Although
American forces toppled the repressive Taliban regime in 2001,
the future of this fractured nation remains uncertain. During
the campaign for the first democratic presidential election
in October 2004, the leading candidate Hamid Karzai moved around
in a phalanx of armored vehicles, his bodyguards armed to the
teeth.
At the same time, a private citizen, with no money, no party
and no political experience, embarked on a very different campaign
for the Presidency of this conservative Muslim country. Even
as violence and kidnappings continued, Dr. Moussada Jalal traveled
in an ordinary sedan with her husband and no bodyguards. It
was not the first time she risked her life for her beliefs.
Dr. Jalal has amazing courage and vision. A former lecturer
of medicine at Kabul University, she is determined to end all
forms of discrimination in her country. Her extraordinary political
campaign for the Presidency was meant to wake up the people
of Afghanistan. In the aftermath of the repressive Taliban rule,
Dr. Jalal is making history.
The Taliban's seizure of power in 1994 marked the beginning
of very dark period in Afghanistan's history. Fear dictated
how people lived their lives. Although the Taliban ended the
tribal and regional conflict, their extreme form of Islamic
fundamentalism made life unbearable for women. A rigid set of
laws governed every aspect of their lives. Girls were denied
the right to attend school and women were not allowed to work
or even venture outside their own home unless accompanied by
a male relative. They faced harsh punishment from religious
police if they did not wear the Burka, a traditional garment
covering their entire body and face.
For Dr. Jalal the repressive Taliban rule was devastating. After
devoting all her time and resources to getting a degree from
Kabul University—often sacrificing meals to pay for books—Dr.
Jalal rose to the top of her field, practicing medicine and
teaching at the University. She still speaks with sorrow about
the day the Taliban members came to her work place and ordered
her to stop teaching and practicing medicine. She and other
educated, professional women were stripped of their status and
identity. "I don't think there is a more severe pain than this,"
she says softly.
Although heartbroken, Dr. Jalal did not give in. She started
working with UN agencies, such as the World Food Programme (WFP)
that delivered food and medicine to the many destitute people
in Kabul. She operated out of her home, providing medical services
for women and children and preparing reports that she sent to
her colleagues by taxi. Even widows without any means of support
were banned from working, but they were allowed to beg. Many
starved. Dr. Jalal helped set up "widows' bakeries" so that
they could work from home.
During her campaign for the Presidency, Dr. Jalal was welcomed
into every community, even by men who had never seen an educated,
modern woman. People are surprised when they hear this but they
should not be. Long years of carving out a role for herself
during the Taliban regime honed Dr. Jalal's leadership skills.
She is a fearless survivor who does not acknowledge obstacles.
A natural warmth and empathy allow her to connect with a wide
cross section of Afghanis.
She convinced many men and women that her foremost goal was
to heal the country's wounds. "I'm a medical doctor by profession.
Of course you can imagine what the spirit of the medical doctor
is: to decrease pain and to treat the bones. I want to decrease
the pain of human beings without discrimination," she says.
Dr. Jalal's achievements resonate in her countrywomen's lives.
She describes her campaign as a call for people to "come forward
to determine their destiny". She met thousands of women for
whom voting was a cathartic experience after long years of being
anonymous, faceless and voiceless.
Although Karzai won the election, Dr. Jalal remains a symbol
of hope for women in Afghanistan. She came second in the race
and was appointed Minister of Women's Affairs. Although women
are guaranteed equal rights under the country's new Constitution,
Dr. Jalal knows that implementing those new rights will be a
challenge.
"Discrimination against women is an historical problem, so it
is a big load. To be able to finish with these problems takes
time, it needs resources and increased security," she says.
Dr. Jalal is eager to involve women in her decision making process
and feels confident in her own abilities to affect change on
the national level.
Dr. Jalal is eager to run for the presidency again. "The new
Afghanistan should be built by the hand of a mother," she says
with a smile and insists that she wants both men and women to
reach their full potential. All three of her young children,
two girls and a boy all under ten are clearly inspired by their
mother. They say they want to be president when they grow up.
Dr. Jalal wants to help build a society where this could be
possible for her daughters as well as her sons and where they
can grow free from persecution. "All I want to do is sacrifice
myself to this great idea," she insists.
At a recent United Nations conference to assess women's achievements
since the historic 1995 Beijing Conference, Dr. Jalal represented
her country at the United Nations for the first time. She considers
being able to speak in the UN General Assembly about the problems
her fellow citizens face as one of her greatest achievements.
For her, New York symbolizes modernity and progress, even as
her own country still suffers the aftermath of years of conflict
and privation. "Anybody who comes to New York will feel happy
just like anyone who goes to Afghanistan will feel sad." However,
Dr. Jalal maintains a positive outlook. Her equal support from
both men and women signal to her that there is hope yet.
What Can You Do?Begin by learning
more about the status of women in Afghanistan and other developing
countries. Check the links on the side of this story and get
involved through grassroots organizations.
Find out what the UN is doing to promote
women's rights. Thousands of non-governmental organizations
or NGOs and high level delegates from over 100 countries came
to the United Nations in New York for two weeks from 28 February
to 11 March. They came to assess the progress women made since
the historic 1995
Fourth Women's Conference in Beijing.
Beijing+10, as this meeting was called, was an official follow-up
Ten Year Review and Appraisal and was part of the 49th
session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The more than
5,000 women who came to the UN were given an opportunity to
share achievements of the last decade and also confront the
major obstacles in the path to achieving women's rights.
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| Women
in Afghanistan |
| Life
expectancy: females as % of males,2003 |
101 |
| Adult
literacy: females as % of males,2000 |
41 |
| Contraceptive
prevalence (%) (1995-2003) |
10 |
| Antenatal
care coverage (%) (1995-2003) |
37 |
| Skilled
attendant at delivery (%) (1995-2003) |
14 |
| Maternal
mortality ratio,reported (1985-2003) |
1600 |
| Maternal
mortality ratio,adjusted (2000) |
1900 |
| Liftime
risk of maternal death. 1 in: (2000) |
6 |
| Definitions
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More Details |
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