Kai Eide’s last event: Women empowerment conference

6 Mar 2010

Kai Eide’s last event: Women empowerment conference

6 March 2010 - On the eve of Women’s Day and his departure as outgoing top envoy for Afghanistan, Kai Eide today challenged the country’s political leadership to empower women constantly and not just on the annual celebration of Women’s Day.

 

Gracing the International Conference on the Empowerment of Legislation for Women in Afghanistan as his last official event as head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr Eide lamented thus: “Yes, I have heard prominent politicians speak about the rights of women, and the need to end violence, abuse and discrimination, but they are sporadic references at great occasions.”

“I challenge the President and other political leaders to make this a cause that they will promote and fight for everyday in the year and not one day in a year – on 8 March… to gradually translate to a stronger voice of women in politics,” urged Mr Eide in his widely applauded speech at the conference organized by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) headed by Dr Sima Samar.

“I am pleased that my last appearance takes place in a conference dedicated to the rights of women,” said the outgoing envoy as he expressed admiration for “the growing strength of civil society and women’s networks in Afghanistan.” The main objectives of the two-day conference are “to overview the effective grounds in legislation regarding women in Afghanistan using the experiences of different countries” and the “recognition of civil society’s role in the process of compilation and drafting of laws on women, and the implementation of laws in favour of women.”

“But to avoid the marginalization of women in this country will need the constant engagement of men – the President, members of Government, prominent leaders or other state institutions and opinion leaders in the society as such,” added Mr Eide.

While recognizing the progress so far achieved in the area of women empowerment in Afghanistan, the outgoing UNAMA chief called on the assemblage not to “underestimate the tremendous work that needs to be done and the fact – because it is a fact – that women are still marginalized in Afghan society.”

“And those who dare play a role often face serious risks as we saw nearly a year ago when Sitara Achakzai – a member of the Provincial Council in Kandahar – was murdered because she was a woman exercising her political rights under the Constitution,” recalled Mr Eide as he lamented the fact that nobody has been punished for the murder, and that “she is only one in a vast number of anonymous, unknown cases of women who suffer from the culture of impunity.”

“This is a conference on legislation and legislation is fundamental. But we need more than the law – we need the rule of law,” Mr Eide pointed out, adding: “It is first and foremost a question of human rights and rule of law.”

“The legal framework must be developed through a wide and inclusive consultation process. That was the case for the Constitution and the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women,” said the top UN envoy who pointed out thus: “I am concerned when laws and decrees with far-reaching implications are adopted without such a process – two months ago, we discovered that an Amnesty Law had been gazetted and apparently kept away from the attention of the public for over a year.”

“The process in itself gives reason for serious concerns. So does the content. In my experience, amnesty is one way of healing the wounds of a country – but those wounds cannot be healed if there is no accountability, if it means the sanctioning of impunity and atrocities committed.”

The UNAMA head also voiced his concern about the recent decree on elections. “It would be much better if an electoral process is the result of an inclusive process where Parliament and civil society are involved.”

Mr Eide also delved on reconciliation, saying it is an “indispensable part of a strategy to end the conflict in this country,” but stressed that “any reconciliation policy must be based on the Constitution and the progress made – it must take us forward – not backwards.”

“On the day of my departure from Afghanistan, I cannot hide that I am deeply concerned,” revealed the UNAMA chief, pointing out that “this year can become a year where negative trends are turned but it will require tremendous efforts – a mobilization of political energy – not more of the same.”

“There must be an end to the fragmentation in the political establishment, a sense of understanding of how serious the situation is and a call for unity of effort. If this does not happen, then negative trends can again become unmanageable,” he reiterated.

“We must see positive changes this year,” he urged, calling for “unity around serious political reforms in critical sectors,” including the “weak” judicial system.

To the conference organizers and participants, Mr Eide reiterated the support of the United Nations “for what you are undertaking, for your work and your struggle,” concluding thus:

“I again appeal to the political leadership of this country to give you stronger, constant and visible support.”

By Aurora V. Alambra, UNAMA

 

Website: Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission