[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 150 (Friday, November 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE WORLD OF AFGHAN WOMEN

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                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 1, 2001

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, imagine a world where you are: banned from 
revealing any skin and are required to be fully covered even in 
stifling heat; and banned from wearing white shoes because it is the 
color of your nation's flags; or shoes that are high heels because they 
may make noise.
  Imagine a world where you are: unable to leave your home without 
permission; and where working and gaining education are illegal.
  Imagine a world where a woman is: banned from men-only hospitals, 
even in the severest of medical emergencies and the hospitals that are 
available have no oxygen, clean water, intravenous equipment, medicine, 
or x-ray machines.
  Imagine a world where: you attend a sporting event but cannot display 
any emotion and may experience the interruption of the event for the 
purpose of a ``public execution'' of a woman; possibly carried out by 
her own family member and witnessed by her children and other children 
in attendance.
  Finally, imagine a world where: it is taboo to read the religious 
book that is used to set these rules.
  For some people this is not an imaginary world. For Afghan woman this 
is their reality. Women in Afghanistan have suffered an assault on 
their human rights during more than 20 years of war and under the 
repressive rule of the Taliban, which emerged as a military force in 
1994 and declared itself the government of Afghanistan.
  Taliban decrees have basically restricted women in all aspects of 
their lives. These restrictions are religiously and institutionally 
sanctioned and include: (a) Dress codes; (b) prohibitions against work 
and education; and (c) various acts of violence against women. In fact, 
violence against women in Afghanistan has reached pandemic proportions. 
Women and girls are systemically subjected to rape, kidnaping, forced 
marriage or prostitution. As expected, the mental health of these women 
has severely deteriorated and some have committed suicide.
  Many women were educated before the Taliban took power and they 
represented 70 percent of all teachers, 50 percent of civil servants, 
and 40 percent of medical doctors. These same women can no longer 
practice their trades or work at all and have been basically relegated 
to non human status.
  I am sure it is difficult for many Americans to imagine the existence 
of these women. But we must attempt to understand their pain. America 
is a land that stands for justice and human rights and as the leaders 
of this great nation, I ask my colleagues to be committed to 
maintaining these principles in our nation and around the world. We 
must work to safeguard women's human rights and ensure that 
individuals, terrorist groups, government forces and armed groups are 
prevented from committing human rights violations. That is why I 
commend my colleague in organizing this Special Order to bring this 
grave and serious issue to light.
  September 11, 2001 has changed all of our lives. We are fighting a 
war against terrorism and in defense of our homeland. However, we must 
remember that terrorism comes in various forms and includes violations 
of human rights. The Afghan women are currently being terrorized by the 
Taliban. It is my hope that, as we fight this war we are not only 
fighting against the Taliban because they may harbor terrorists, but 
also because their restrictions and atrocities against women in 
Afghanistan are, in fact, terrorist acts.
  It is my hope that we will one day be able to imagine a world where 
Afghan women are able to live freely as first class citizens of a 
progressively democratic society, a world where we are free of 
terrorism, and a world where peace is the norm. I urge my colleagues 
and the international community to unite towards this goal and make it 
a reality.

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