[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AFGHANISTAN EDUCATION FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN

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                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an event that is 
on its way to the world's history books an event that, last month, 
changed the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan forever. On March 
23rd, Afghan schools went back into session, meaning that, for the 
first time in five years, girls began to attend school legally.
  During the reign of the Taliban regime, women all over Afghanistan 
refused to give up their right to be educated. Some set up illegal 
schools in their homes at risk of being severely beaten. Others hid 
books and pencils under their clothing in fear of being killed if they 
were found out. But even during these horrific times, Afghan girls 
remained resolute. ``We want to go to school even more,'' they said. 
For many Afghan girls, this is the first time they can walk down the 
street with a book, without the risk of being killed.
  The Taliban regime was the most repressive regime in the world with 
regard to the status of women. The systematic exclusion of women from 
all positions of status in all aspects of government and society not 
only marginalized women, but it undermined Afghanistan's entire civic 
society. Prior to Taliban rule, 40% of Afghanistan's doctors, over half 
the university students, and two-thirds of Afghanistan's teachers were 
women, It is clear that for the rebuilding of Afghanistan to be 
successful, there must be educated and informed women in all walks of 
life.
  I would like to commend the United States Children Fund for their 
extremely hard work and aid in helping with the ``Back to School'' 
campaign. In cooperation with the Afghan Interim government, UNICEF has 
a goal of bringing more than 1.5 million Afghan children into a safe 
learning environment. In a country where the literacy rate is just four 
percent--the lowest in the world--UNICEF has dedicated countless hours 
to ensuring that each child has access to basic school supplies. The 
kind of dedication to humanitarian relief that UNICEF has shown in 
Afghanistan is essential not only to the future of Afghanistan, but to 
women and children around the world.
  I wholeheartedly thank UNICEF for their support of Afghan children. I 
commend the Interim Afghan government for making education a key 
priority. Most of all, I thank the teachers and children of Afghanistan 
who have had the courage and the will to educate and be educated after 
years of fear, insecurity and oppression.

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