[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 86 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 86


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 17, 2001

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that women from all ethnic groups in 
     Afghanistan should participate in the economic and political 
                     reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Whereas until 1996 women in Afghanistan enjoyed the right to be educated, work, 
        vote, and hold elective office;
Whereas women served on the committee that drafted the Constitution of 
        Afghanistan in 1964;
Whereas during the 1970s women were appointed to the Afghan ministries of 
        education, health, and law;
Whereas in 1977 women comprised more than 15 percent of the Loya Jirga, the 
        Afghan national legislative assembly;
Whereas during the war with the Soviet Union as many as 70 percent of the 
        teachers, nurses, doctors, and small business owners in Afghanistan were 
        women;
Whereas in 1996 the Taliban stripped the women of Afghanistan of their most 
        basic human and political rights;
Whereas under Taliban rule women have become one of the most vulnerable groups 
        in Afghanistan, accounting for 75 percent or more of all Afghan 
        refugees;
Whereas a study conducted by Physicians for Human Rights and released in May 
        2001 indicates that more than 90 percent of Afghan men and women believe 
        that women should have the right to receive an education, work, freely 
        express themselves, enjoy legal protections, and participate in the 
        government; and
Whereas restoring the human and political rights that were once enjoyed by 
        Afghan women is essential to the long-term stability of a reconstructed 
        Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) a portion of the humanitarian assistance provided to 
        Afghanistan should be targeted to Afghan women and their 
        organizations;
            (2) Afghan women from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan 
        should be permitted to participate in the economic and 
        political reconstruction of Afghanistan; and
            (3) any constitution or legal structure of a reconstructed 
        Afghanistan should guarantee the human and political rights of 
        Afghan women.

            Passed the Senate December 13, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                  JERI THOMSON,

                                                             Secretary.