[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2027-E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AFGHAN WOMEN'S RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 7, 2001

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
commending the work of organizations led by Afghan women that are 
providing substantial education, health and relief services during a 
time of humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This resolution also urges 
the President to ensure that any new government established in 
Afghanistan include women as full and active participants.
  Since 1996, when the Taliban regime took over, the women of 
Afghanistan have lived in absolute fear. To be a woman in Afghanistan

[[Page E2028]]

under the Taliban's rule is to be considered little more than chattel. 
Women are banned from receiving an education, holding a job or engaging 
in conversations outside the home. They can be arrested for venturing 
outside their house without a male relative or stoned to death if they 
are married and accompanied by an unrelated male. The Taliban enforces 
these draconian decrees in a brutal and capricious fashion that does 
not begin to resemble due process or a fair judicial system.
  Prior to the Taliban's rule, women held careers as doctors, nurses, 
and teachers. They were free to exercise their rights as citizens, move 
about, and speak freely. Many of them were considered leaders in their 
communities, educated, and well-respected. Since 1996, these women have 
gone into hiding. They are forced to be mere shadows of their former 
selves.
  To women like myself who live in a free democracy, these severe 
restrictions of movement, speech, and dress are unimaginable. And, 
without question, the laundry list of blatant human rights violations 
would not be tolerated against any other population in the world, 
particularly not in the United States. So how can we, as decent, 
intelligent people stand by and watch?
  Thankfully, a few courageous organizations led by Afghan women are 
taking action. These organizations are often clandestine in nature and 
strive to improve the status of women and girls in Afghanistan through 
underground circles. At this time, it is by their valiant efforts alone 
that many women and girls in Afghanistan have received an education or 
health and relief services.
  One of the most prominent examples of such an organization is the 
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, or RAWA. 
Established in 1977, this organization offers relief to the women and 
girls of Afghanistan by running primary and secondary schools for 
refugee girls, creating mobile health teams in Pakistan, and running 
handicrafts, carpet and tailoring workplaces.
  Engaging in these modest activities, however, is only one way in 
which RAWA serves Afghan women. Despite the risk to their own lives, 
many RAWA activists have also carried video cameras under their burqas 
to record executions of Afghan women and other similar punishments. In 
many cases, these videotapes have been the key to exposing the inhuman 
acts of the Taliban and proving to the Western world that these women 
need help.
  While efforts like RAWA's relieve some of the worst excesses of the 
Taliban's regime, however, they do not fix the problem. Afghan women 
will never regain their freedom in the future unless a constitutional 
democracy is restored in Afghanistan and Afghan women play a leadership 
role in rebuilding their country.
  Fortunately, for the first time since the Taliban regime took over, 
the U.S. is in a strong position to make this happen and to provide 
substantial help to Afghan women.
  As our government fights to eliminate the Taliban and those who 
support them in Afghanistan, we must ensure that not only are the 
rights of women and girls in Afghanistan preserved, but that their full 
citizenship is restored.
  In addition, we must call upon the U.S. government and the United 
Nations to provide direct funding to these Afghan women's 
organizations. If provided, this funding would strengthen their ability 
to deliver services and to enhance their role in fostering a more civil 
society. Finally, we must urge the Administration to encourage any new 
government in Afghanistan to include women as leaders.
  After five years of enduring the wrath of the Taliban regime, it is 
time to restore basic human rights to all Afghan people, especially 
women and girls, and to end these repressive policies. The women of 
Afghanistan have proven their ability to lead; they simply need the 
opportunity to exercise it.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and myself, I am proud to 
introduce H.Res______and urge my colleagues to support it.

                          ____________________