Fawzia Koofi, a member of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives under the former republic, says Afghans live with the question of whether Afghanistan failed at democracy, or democracy failed Afghanistan.
Koofi made the remarks at a meeting of the International Women’s Peace Group in South Korea. She said that abandoning women in Afghanistan is a test of the international community’s commitment to justice.
She went on to stress that women and girls have been excluded from education and employment for the past five years.
She said this is because governments fear educated, powerful women.
Criticizing the international community, Koofi said Afghanistan’s allies abandoned the country precisely when it needed them most.
Koofi added that steps must be taken to ensure women are not sidelined again when political priorities in Afghanistan change.
Her remarks come as the de facto authorities have barred women and girls from education since taking control of Afghanistan. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to women and girls, even as Afghanistan’s health sector faces a nationwide shortage of personnel.
The current authorities’ actions have left millions of schoolgirls unable to continue their education.
Women have also been barred from going to sports clubs, restaurants and public baths; being examined by male doctors; travelling without a mahram (male guardian); and working for domestic and international NGOs or even at UN offices in Afghanistan.
According to reports, if the ban continues, nearly four million girls could be deprived of education by 2030.
