(2004/C 88 E/0419)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2478/03

by Miet Smet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2003)

Subject:   Women's rights in Afghanistan

The Taliban's seizure of power in 1996 went hand in hand with a spectacular decline in the situation of Afghan women. Women were subjected to extreme psychological and physical repression in the form of a partial or total withdrawal of medical care, education, opportunities to earn a living and freedom of movement.

Many had hoped that the end of the Taliban regime would usher in a new era for Afghan women. In the European Parliament resolution of 5 September 2002 (1) it was stressed that absolute priority must be given to the situation of women in Afghanistan. Members of the European Parliament also asked for a new Afghan government to adopt and implement effective measures to improve the situation of women. The European Union also wishes to contribute to this process, and has provided for part of Europe's support for Afghanistan to be targeted directly at specific women's projects.

But a year and a half after the Bonn conference the situation of women is anything but favourable. In the country, where three-quarters of Afghans live, nothing has changed for women. This has been confirmed by Members of the European Parliament who participated in the EP delegation to Afghanistan: since the fall of the Taliban women's rights have improved only in Kabul, and over the whole country only 30 % of girls go to school.

How does the EU react to this continuing violation of women's rights? Which specific women's projects in Afghanistan are being funded by the EU? As well as supporting specific women's projects, is the EU taking other steps to improve the situation of women? What proportion of the European budget for Afghanistan is used entirely for the benefit of women?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 August 2003)

The Commission is promoting change through its aid programme to Afghanistan. In 2002, specific projects for women were funded including the rehabilitation of women's baths and a park for women in Kabul. The Commission has also financed several initiatives to promote civil society and encourage advocacy for disadvantaged and minority groups, including women.

The 2003-2004 Country Strategy Paper underlines the need to put women at the heart of the Commission's approach to Afghanistan. It will continue to fund projects specifically for women — for example, women's baths in six regional cities outside Kabul. And to ensure that their specific needs are mainstreamed across all projects. A minimum of 2 % of the Commission reconstruction programme will be devoted to specific women's projects. However, it is the overall approach to mainstreaming that will ensure that women benefit substantially from all of the Community's interventions. For example, the Commission's health programme is heavily focussed on women's health needs.

More broadly, the Commission alongside the international community, must ensure that the women's rights and roles of women are a key element of recovery and reconstruction, from facilitating their access to basic healthcare and education to pushing for their inclusion in all aspects of the policy making process. The Commission is a leading donor in the health sector where tackling child and maternal mortality as well as reproductive health issues are key priorities.

The international community must also work with the Government to ensure that the new Constitution enshrines Human Rights for all, including women, and that these are enforced through the judicial system. The Commission is contributing to the Law and Order trust fund and to the justice sector. This will help finance judicial reform and ensure that laws are implemented effectively.

(1)  P5-TA(2002)0407.