Fact Sheet 2008

Progress for Women is Progress for All

Afghan Government Commitments to Women

BONN AGREEMENT

Committed to...

broad-based, gender sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative government.

Signed on 5 December, 2001

Go to the full Bonn Agreement online

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AFGHANISTAN CONSTITUTION

Articles 22, 44 and 54:

The citizens of Afghanistan – whether woman or man – have equal rights and duties before the law.

Approved on 4 January, 2004

Download the Afghanistan Constitution from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs [PDF]

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AFGHANISTAN COMPACT

Benchmarks: Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights

By end-2010: the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan will be fully implemented; and, in line with Afghanistan’s MDGs, female participation in all Afghan governance institutions, including elected and appointed bodies and the civil service, will be strengthened.

Build lasting Afghan capacity and effective state and civil society institutions, with particular emphasis on building up human capacities of men and women alike.

Recognize in all policies and programmes that men and women have equal rights and responsibilities.

Signed on 31 January - 1 February, 2006

Download the Afghanistan Compact from UNAMA [PDF]

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INTERIM AFGHANISTAN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
(I-ANDS)

I-ANDS contains a total of 18 statements of commitment addressing gender equity

Cross-cutting Issue no. 1: Gender Equity

The Government's goal is to eliminate discrimination against women, develop their human capital and promote their leadership in order to guarantee their full and equal participation in all aspects of life in Afghanistan.

Launched on 31 January - 1 February, 2006

Go to the I-ANDS Website

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MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Goals 2, 3, 4 and 5:

To achieve universal primary education ; To promote gender equality and to empower women ; To reduce child mortality; To improve maternal health .

Afghanistan became the 191st signatory to the Millennium Declaration in 2004

Go to the Afghanistan Mliienium Development Goals at the ANDS Website
Go to the Millenium Development Goals at the UN

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PROTOCOL ON THE ELIMINATION OF FORCED AND CHILD MARRIAGE

Aiming at the elimination of child and forced marriage by 2008.

Signed on 24 November, 2005

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ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (EVAW) COMMISSION

Mandated to supervise and coordinate action and policy on violence against women at the national level

Created 9 July, 2003

Read more about the EVAW Commission »

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CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)

...the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields.

Ratified on 5 March, 2003

Go to the CEDAW online

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UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women's human rights, political participation and economic security worldwide.
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