Armanshahr and National Dialogue with Women
“National Dialogue with Women: Obtaining Justice or One Step Back” was the title of the 41st public debate GOFTEGU as a bridge between the elite and the citizens that was organised in the framework of the public debates of Armanshahr Foundation and the 50%Women’s Campaign in the city of Herat.
This was the fourth discussion forum of the Armanshahr Foundation at meetings with the people of Herat that and it was convened on 16 August 2009.
The meeting, held at Allameh Salaheddin Saljuki Hall, aimed to initiate a discussion of the demands of women, as 50% of the voters seeking political, social and cultural participation, to the future president of Afghanistan. About 120 people attended the discussion and a number of the media representatives from the daily Ettefagh-e Islam, daily Mandegar and Kelid Radio also took part to give coverage to it.
Ms. Soraya Pakzad, president of the Neday-e Zan Institute in Herat, Ms. Fatemeh Jafari, writer and opinion holder, Ms. Hassineh Nikzad and Ms. Massoudeh Karkhi, headmistress of a girls’ high school in Herat, addressed the meeting on those issues and answered questions from the audience. Ms. Layla Akbari was the moderator of the meeting.
The first speaker, Ms. Massoudeh Karkhi, pointed out that the people’s expectations have not been fulfilled since the previous election, stating: “When we participated in the previous election, we thought we would be in better conditions after five years. Unfortunately, our expectations did not come true; to the contrary.”
Referring to talks with the Taliban and the importance of security in human’s life, she said: “We are not opposed to talks, but we do not want the positive measures taken for the rights of women to be destroyed as a result of such talks. The Constitution tells us that all the citizens, men and women included, are equal before the law. We place great emphasis on this point and do not want to lose our little gains as results of behind the curtain deals and capitulation.”
Soraya Pakzad, head of the Neday-e Zan Institute, described women as the principal victims of war and said: “We seriously demand an end to war and armed conflicts. We need talks to move toward ending war and reaching peace. Women have always been at the forefront of peace efforts, as they have rendered valuable services to settle family, ethnic and village conflicts throughout the history of Afghanistan. We are the same Afghan women and can be the true vanguard of peace, provided that we are also at the negotiations table, provided that those talks are transparent. We support transparent talks that would lead to a permanent peace. However, we oppose talks that are not transparent, talks that are held away from the eyes of the public and are only intended for deals, and talks where women are absent.”
Hassineh Nikzad pointed out the importance of women’s political participation, stating: “We women must think that our vote and our presence in the society are really important. We do not want to take part in the elections and vote, without having laws in favour of women, without any supervision over the implementation of the laws and a control over the violations. We do wish the next government would respect the rights of women in the framework of Islamic and international laws.”
The second part of the meeting was allocated to discussions between the audience and the speakers. Answering a question on negotiations with the Taliban, Ms. Karkhi said: “As to what can be done in relation to talks with the Taliban and our values, I believe there have been people in the past seven years whose action against women has not been not less than the Taliban, if not more. They were the ones who deprived this generation of girls and boys of the gift of education in the past 30 years. We would not have the Taliban, if the gates to schools had not been shut. They are the same people who are still truly misogynists and occupy a special status within the power hierarchy and the establishment. Nevertheless, they have adjusted their behaviour somewhat since they took power. I have said before that the Taliban were extremist misogynists, who were opposed to education of women and deemed women fit only for housework and giving birth to children. However, we strongly need security. Insecurity has left a strong negative impact on our activities. Young women and girls of Herat do not dare go out without burqa. Why? If this state of insecurity goes on, it will harm us. This is no less bad than trampling on the values. The future government should hold the talks with the aim of avoiding the violation of our rights. We are opposed to any capitulation, but we are equally opposed to war.”
During the question and answer time, there were also questions about women and the new Personal Status Law for the Shiah, political participation of women and gradual moves of women to achieve their rights and the traditional attitude prevailing in Herat which the speakers answered.
Speakers referred to the dark suppressive period under the Taliban, pointing out: The government should be careful not to prepare the ground with the talks such that women would not be able to leave the house, as was the case under the Taliban, hence missing the caravan of democracy.
To view the publications related to this Goftegu Public Debate, please refer to the following links:
انتشارات آرمان شهر: مذاکره ملی با زنان: دادرسی یا عقب نشینی؟
To view a Video of the Goftegu Public Debate, please click HERE
Invitation for 40th Goftegu Public Debate: National Dialogue with Women in Afghanistan; Justice Rendered or One Step back?
