Living conditions of women in Afghanistan is not an area
for rest of the world to proud of. Harshly enforced discriminatory gender
specific customs, gun culture etc are keeping women out of job, out of
education system, out of government services, out of modern healthcare systems
etc. Of course insurgency is affecting men as well, but in the case of women it’s
much more brutal. They have to live in a constant state of fear...
It’s not that Afghan women are not doing anything on
their own to alter the status quo. When they got an opportunity to pursue
education or government services, many came forward to accept the challenge.
Lieutenant Islam Bibi is one such person. Prior to the
downfall of Taliban, this 37 year old, mother of three, was an Afghan refugee
in Iran. In 2001 with a lot of optimism she came back to her mother land. Around
nine years ago she joined Afghan Police force. Over time she moved up through
the ladders and reached the position of Lieutenant – thus became the most
senior female official in Helmand province of Afghanistan.
Thursday while going to work, assailants shot her. Bibi
later died in a hospital bed. Her son, who was also travelling in the same
vehicle, also suffered injuries.
Her way was not covered with rose petals. In insurgent
hit Helmand provice, she faced opposition not only from outside but from the family
as well. Bibi told Sunday Telegraph that, “My brother, father and sisters were
all against me. In fact my brother tried to kill me three times,”
Living in Afghanistan is perilous; if you are women then extent
of risk is very high. Over and above 1,00,000 strong NATO forces are winding
down their operations in next year. Will Afghanistan lose even that minute
progress they made in social status of women? Will the new administration, receiving
less support from NATO (after winding down) be able to empower women?
There are some positive steps. Like the passage of legislations
like "Elimination of Violence Against Women." But laws as such don’t
have much significance, unless they are enforced well by a determined executive
with backing from Police, Judiciary and Civil society. Will they will be able
to do this? More than that, whether they would like to this? I have doubts.
Bibi is not the only women official gunned down by anti
social elements. According to SCMP report, "...killing of female police
Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar, in neighbouring province Kandahar in 2008... deaths
of two successive women’s affairs directors in Laghman province within months
last year." In addition to that vast number of silent victims across the
nation...
Assailants were finally able to silence the voice of
Bibi. Now, it is the obligation of Afghans especially women to live with that
spirit. As NATO soldiers are already started packing up for their journey back
to home, they should not expect much from outside world. For their own life,
for the sake of coming generations, for the sake of humanity, it is the duty of
Afghan women to fight hard for their rights, for their rightful status in
society, politics, economy etc. Rest of the world may not be able to join you on
ground but our wishes will be with you.
Sajeev.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment