Access for Afghan Women Act
 

On Monday, November 19, Representatives Constance Morella (R-MD) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced into Congress the Access for Afghan Women Act of 2001, H.R. 3342. This bill outlines the concrete and specific steps the United States should take to ensure that women in Afghanistan have a voice in the future of the country and that Afghan women get the relief aid that they desperately need. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States support the passage in Congress of the Access for Afghan Women Act of 2001.

The Access for Afghan Women Act calls on the U.S. government to:

  • Consult with and include representatives of women’s organizations and networks from the major ethnic groups in Afghanistan during peace negotiations and post-conflict decision making.
  • Ensure that the full range of human rights of women, as described in the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are included in any constitution or legal structure of a future government in Afghanistan by including a significant number of women in the drafting of a new constitution.
  • Provide financial and programmatic assistance for the efforts of Afghan women's organizations that represent the various ethnic groups.
  • Provide financial assistance for primary, secondary, and higher education for all individuals in Afghanistan.
  • Provide financial assistance to build health infrastructure and to deliver women-centered health programs, particularly comprehensive and high quality reproductive health and family planning services.
  • Provide assistance to rehabilitate children affected by the conflict, particularly child soldiers. Take all necessary steps to protect women refugees in camps, urban areas, and villages from violence.
  • Take all necessary steps to ensure that women refugees in camps, urban areas, and villages fleeing from the conflict situation in Afghanistan are directly receiving food aid, shelter, relief supplies, and other services from United States-sponsored programs.

Women of Afghanistan need your voice now!! Click here to Take action

The passage of the Access for Afghan Women Act is dependent on supportive voices of women and men from around the country. This concrete set of instructions will ensure that the U.S. government will act in the best interest of women in Afghanistan, in addition to talking about the best interests of women in Afghanistan. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afghan Women Act - Action
 

NOW more than ever, your voice and your action can make a crucial difference for the women of Afghanistan. Take these 3 easy steps:

1. Call your Member of Congress. To find your Representative, click on the link below. It will take you to a web page for the House of Representatives. Once there, you can type in your zip code and it will give you the name, address, phone number, and website address for your Representative. http://www.house.gov/writerep/ To find your Senator, click on the link below. This will give you a list of all Senators, by state. Find your state and click on the two Senators' names. This will take you to their websites that contain their contact information.  http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm

2. Making the Phone
Call Feel free to use this sample phone script a as place to start. You can change it to reflect your own beliefs and ideals.

Script:

Hello, my name is _____(insert your name)____ and I am calling from ___(name of your town)___ to let the Representative (or Senator) know that I support the Access for Afghan Women Act, H.R. 3342.

It is very important to me that women are at the center of our development and nation-building policies in Afghanistan. Women have faced horrendous conditions in Afghanistan but they have also been leaders in this country. The United States should involve a gender component in any and all bills that they pass.

Please send me some information on the Representative's stance on women and development in Afghanistan. My address is: ____________________.

Thank you for your time.

3. Write a letter to follow up on your call.
 

Your Name
Address Address
City, ST 00000

The Honorable ____________
The United States Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Representative/(Senator) ______________:

I am writing to urge you cosponsor the Access for Afghan Women Act, H.R. 3342, that requires the White House and State Department to make the restoration of women's human rights in Afghanistan a priority goal for U.S. action in the country.

This bill instructs the U.S. to involve Afghan women and women's organizations representing all ethnic groups in every aspect of the peace process, design and establishment of a new government in Afghanistan, and all reconstruction and development programs.

Afghan women had human rights 10 years ago and it's critical that the U.S. play a leadership role in restoring those rights. And peace and reconstruction efforts will not succeed without the full participation of more than half the Afghan population; women represent 54 percent of the population after years of war and are more supportive of peace and stability than any other single group in the country.

I urge you to support this important piece of legislation. I look forward to hearing your views on this topic. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Name