January 2014 Action Item

In the years since Taliban control has been loosened in Afghanistan, modest but important strides have been made in the struggle for the rights and protection of women and girls. However, upcoming peace talks between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other insurgent groups may jeopardize these advances. As the 2014 draw down of troops begins, we join Amnesty International in calling on President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to take vital measures to ensure that basic human rights for all females in Afghanistan are provided for and that a groundwork for ongoing improvement is laid.

Take Action!


Write to:

President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500


and/or

Secretary of State John Kerry
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

 Suggested points:

  • Indicate that you are aware that many strides have been made for human rights for women and girls have been made in Afghanistan in the decade since the Taliban lost control, for instance, the 2 million girls who are currently enrolled in school. However, they all still fear they will become targets of insurgent attacks and intimidation. Indicate you are aware of the situation of Parween, a headmistress of a girls' school, whose son was kidnapped and executed by the Taliban because of her work educating girls, and who also survived an assassination attempt, which gravely injured her husband.
  • Express your deep concern that reconciliation talks between the Afghan government, the Taliban, and other insurgent groups will threaten the human rights situation in Afghanistan in general, and that of females in particular.
  • Therefore, urge the United States government to adopt a plan to ensure women's rights would not be traded away or compromised during such talks;
  • Urge that the United States government would encourage and assist the Afghan government to fulfill its commitment for greater recruitment to government and National Security agencies, including the setting of a 25 percent minimum quota for women in parliament and gender-sensitivity training in all official agencies;
  • And finally, urge that the US government should encourge and assist the Afghan government to fully and promptly implement the 2009 Law on Elimination of Violence against Women, raising awareness of the law among Afghan women and men, within all levels of the government, and further train police, prosecutors and judges on applying the law consistently.