SDG Blog 6

 

Afghanistan ranks as one of the least favorable countries on gender inequality index and literacy rate for women. Women face widespread discrimination and abuse and are shown little to no respect from their male counterparts because they are seen as inferior. Research shows that "80 percent of all suicides are committed by women, making Afghanistan one of the few places in the world where rates are higher among women" (TIME, p, 12). Afghan girls are susceptible to being sold into early marriages where they are inevitably pushed into an endless cycle of domestic violence, poverty and are given little to no freedom by their husbands. 

The National Action Plan for Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) is one of the major steps that will be take towards reaching the gender equality SDG in Afghanistan. They prepared, finalized and lobbied "the first law in the history of Afghanistan that clearly  describes more than 22 actions against women as crimes and orders the perpetrators of such actions be punished" (SDG, p. 50). MoWA is also leading the Afghan Social protection Sector and has taken many steps to improve women's status and abolish discrimination and violence against women. A 10 year plan was prepared by MoWA together with international donors that describes "how to achieve three main goals including security, governance, rule of law and human right" (SDG, p. 51). MoWA took steps to improve women's status by empowering women and supporting their development in education, social, economic, and political processes. 

Despite the National Action Plan For Women In Afghanistan being put in place 2006 to guarantee social gender equality no such progress has been made. Analytic reports show that "a number of governmental administrations due to various reasons, were not able to achieve some of the objectives mentioned in the plan" (SDG, p.52). Political participation of women in the government is seen as almost impossible, women in managerial governmental positions form 10% and women are still victims of discrimination and violence. The law is not being implemented on perpetrators of violence, harassment, and discriminations against women, forced marriages are still taking place and obscene traditions are still horribly impacting women.

There is no cost to implementing gender equality in Afghanistan because girls and women are absolutely not a priority and the government is not addressing the issue. The plans that were set in place to reach this SDG failed because women are not valued by the men who run this country. Men continue to hold all the power and until they decide that women deserve respect and common human decency the country will continue to suffer socially and economically. Afghan women possibly have o take matters into their own hands by uniting together and refusing to be kept down by the men in their country. The government obviously does not see women's rights as a priority and until they do their will continue to be no progress made. 

References

Bohn, L. (2018, December 08). Why Afghanistan Is Still the Worst Place to Be a Woman. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://time.com/5472411/afghanistan-women-justice-war/

Flag of Afghanistan image and meaning Afghan flag. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.countryflags.com/en/flag-of-afghanistan.html

For a generation of Afghan women, US foreign policy changed everything. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-10-25/generation-afghan-woman-us-foreign-policy-changed-everything

Gender focus. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/gender-focus

Haidari, M. (2013, March 18). Afghan women as a measure of progress. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/03/18/afghan-women-as-a-measure-of-progress/

Voluntary National Review at the High Level Political Forum SDGs’ Progress Report Afghanistan. (2017). Retrieved October 25, 2020, from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/16277Afghanistan.pdf