On May 23, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved, by voice vote, legislation (H.R. 2446) to provide aid to Afghanistan. The measure includes assistance to women and girls.
Sponsored by Chair Tom Lantos (D-CA), H.R. 2446 would provide health care assistance to reduce maternal and infant mortality, expand immunization programs for women and children, and expand services for women and girls suffering from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The measure would create programs to protect women and girls from sexual and physical abuse, trafficking, and sex discrimination. Protection and services for widows, orphans, and women heads of household would be provided, in addition to emergency shelters for women and girls who face danger from violence.
H. R. 2446 would establish primary and secondary schools for girls that would include math, science and languages in the curriculum. Educational opportunities for older girls whose schooling was ended by the Taliban also would be provided. H.R. 2446 would expand adult literacy programs and technical and vocational training programs for women.
The measure also would monitor and investigate violations against women; provide legal assistance to women who suffer violations of their rights; ensure that women have equal access to the judicial system; assist women in exercising property, inheritance, and voting rights; support the work of women-led nongovernmental organizations; provide training to the military, police, and legal personnel about women’s rights; and disseminate information on international human rights standards, particularly those pertaining to women, throughout Afghanistan.
For FY2008-2010, H.R. 2446 would authorize $5 million annually for Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs programs and $30 million annually for Afghan-led nongovernmental programs, including women-led organizations. These funds would be used to support activities such as schools for married girls, girls’ orphanages, vocational training for women and girls, primary health clinics for women and children, leadership programs for women, and monthly financial assistance to widows and women heads of household.
The bill also would recognize women’s access to participation in political and civil society as an important key indicator of economic and political development.
