Gender & Justice

Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) Commission

The Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) Commission is an inter-ministerial body whose goal is to identify, analyze and, in cooperation with involved agencies, put efforts to eliminate violence against women at the forefront of government policy development. In this way, in accordance with the Constitution of Afghanistan [PDF] new, gender equality and justice can be achieved.

Establishment of the Commission

evaw commission brochure

Brochure
[PDF]

The EVAW Commission was established following consultations between MOWA and over 30 high-level participants at a one-day workshop in 2004 entitled “How to Help the Women Who are Subject to Violence?”.

UNIFEM's role is to provide technical expertise to the commission. In order to boost the work of the commission and further its capacity, UNIFEM has organized two workshops with the assistance of the Centre for Asian Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP). new The first focused on transformative leadership followed by a 7-day workshop focusing on the development of the commission's mission, vision, strategy and plan of action.

Read the complete report from the workshop [PDF]

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Achievements and Activities of the Commission

Proceedings of the Child and Forced Marriage Conference and its Protocol

The Eradication of Child and Forced Marriage Protocol establishes the responsibility of all government stake-holders to develop policies, laws and plans of action to eradicate child and forced marriages.

child marriage in afghanistan roundtable

Participants at the July 2004 Roundtable on
Child Marriage in Afghanistan

After one year of lobbying and follow-ups with ministries who attended and pledged a commitment to the Eradication of Child and Forced Marriage Protocol, MOWA has succeeded in acquiring signatures from all participating ministries.

 

The signed protocol has been included in the "Proceedings for the Child and Forced Marriage Conference", a publication made widely available to all stake-holders.

The EVAW Commission has incorporated the recommendations of the protocol into its overall plan of action, and UNIFEM supports the commission in monitoring the implementation of the protocol.

UNIFEM is also in cooperation with UNICEF new in carrying out extensive awareness programmes on the issue of child and forced marriage.

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Violence Against Women Seminar in Herat

On 5 December 2007, MOWA, with the support of UNIFEM, organized a seminar in Herat to encourage grassroots participation in the elimination of violence against women. The seminar was attended by over 100 participants, including directors of the Departments of Women's Affairs (DoWAs) from 20 provinces as well as peace and civil society members from Herat.

The objective of the seminar was to address the issue of violence against women through enhancing the roles and contribution of the executive, legislative and judicial ministries.

The outcome of the seminar included:

  • A resolution on the issues of government and civil society in addressing violence against women.
  • 1,000 copies of a compilation of raised issues and papers from the seminar to be distributed.
  • Participants of the seminar are now working together to develop comprehensive and effective laws in order to eliminate violence against women.

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