Dear Fellow Delegates and Honorable Chairs
Comments and constructive feedback will be most greatly appreciated.
Question of: Policy to improve women’s rights by calling a repeal of the recently passed family law bill in Afghanistan.
Delegation/submitter: Egypt
Submitted to: Human Rights Committee
Resolution
Strongly recognizing the fact that woman’s rights are not only an issue for Muslims to consider,
Reaffirming the centrally important nature of the right to freedom of religion and religious choice without fear of sanction, repression or condemnation as emphasised to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
Deeply disturbed that the Bill was passed by Hamid Karzai prior to his election for a second term as a means of buying electoral favour with Conservative factions,
Concerned that the Bill was passed hastily without Parliamentary due process,
Stressing that the full content of the Bill has not been made public leading to conjecture as to its actual content,
Keeping in mind that the Bill applies only to Shiite Muslims and is not to be applied to the Afghan population as a whole,
Noting the current presence of foreign military in Afghanistan as both a peace-keeping and interfering force,
Highlighting the recent Obama Administration’s approval of an additional 30,000 (a 40% increase) troops to be sent to the region,
Grieved to note that the years of war and conflict in Afghanistan have led to the introduction of conservative radical religious practice and consequently a deterioration of the conditions for women,
Cognizant of the fact that Afghanistan is not isolated in its strict adherence to Shari’ah and aware that world interest is focused on the issue as a result of continued international military presence in the region,
1 Congratulates the Islamic Council for its affirmation of women’s rights in the resolution of 1990 whilst retaining a deference to Shari’ah in even its most conservative forms, and encourages the Council to continue its support of women’s rights throughout the Islamic world, guiding nations towards a more tolerant position on women’s place in society;
2 Calls upon all parties concerned to establish democratic rule in Afghanistan without foreign intervention, stabilising government so that foreign military presence is no longer required;
3 Instructs the United Nations Human Rights Committee to conduct a comprehensive survey Shiite women to establish their views of the Bill and encourage them to voice their opinions;
4 Encourages the Afghan government to increase the availability of vocational training for women and increase their presence in the work force by 2015;
5 Calls upon the Afghan Government to work with UNHRC to provide support programmes for women wanting to renounce or change their religion and in these circumstances offer support and assistance;
a) Provision of sheltered accommodation for women fleeing oppressions
b) Provision of Medical Care for female refugees
c) Schooling and support for the children of women forced to flee from their homes or families
d) Legal assistance and assurance for women that the legal system will support their rights including custody of their children when appropriate
e) Provision of counseling and support centers throughout Afghanistan.
Yours Truly
HR-Egypt
Comments and constructive feedback will be most greatly appreciated.
Question of: Policy to improve women’s rights by calling a repeal of the recently passed family law bill in Afghanistan.
Delegation/submitter: Egypt
Submitted to: Human Rights Committee
Resolution
Strongly recognizing the fact that woman’s rights are not only an issue for Muslims to consider,
Reaffirming the centrally important nature of the right to freedom of religion and religious choice without fear of sanction, repression or condemnation as emphasised to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
Deeply disturbed that the Bill was passed by Hamid Karzai prior to his election for a second term as a means of buying electoral favour with Conservative factions,
Concerned that the Bill was passed hastily without Parliamentary due process,
Stressing that the full content of the Bill has not been made public leading to conjecture as to its actual content,
Keeping in mind that the Bill applies only to Shiite Muslims and is not to be applied to the Afghan population as a whole,
Noting the current presence of foreign military in Afghanistan as both a peace-keeping and interfering force,
Highlighting the recent Obama Administration’s approval of an additional 30,000 (a 40% increase) troops to be sent to the region,
Grieved to note that the years of war and conflict in Afghanistan have led to the introduction of conservative radical religious practice and consequently a deterioration of the conditions for women,
Cognizant of the fact that Afghanistan is not isolated in its strict adherence to Shari’ah and aware that world interest is focused on the issue as a result of continued international military presence in the region,
1 Congratulates the Islamic Council for its affirmation of women’s rights in the resolution of 1990 whilst retaining a deference to Shari’ah in even its most conservative forms, and encourages the Council to continue its support of women’s rights throughout the Islamic world, guiding nations towards a more tolerant position on women’s place in society;
2 Calls upon all parties concerned to establish democratic rule in Afghanistan without foreign intervention, stabilising government so that foreign military presence is no longer required;
3 Instructs the United Nations Human Rights Committee to conduct a comprehensive survey Shiite women to establish their views of the Bill and encourage them to voice their opinions;
4 Encourages the Afghan government to increase the availability of vocational training for women and increase their presence in the work force by 2015;
5 Calls upon the Afghan Government to work with UNHRC to provide support programmes for women wanting to renounce or change their religion and in these circumstances offer support and assistance;
a) Provision of sheltered accommodation for women fleeing oppressions
b) Provision of Medical Care for female refugees
c) Schooling and support for the children of women forced to flee from their homes or families
d) Legal assistance and assurance for women that the legal system will support their rights including custody of their children when appropriate
e) Provision of counseling and support centers throughout Afghanistan.
Yours Truly
HR-Egypt