KABUL - A new survey conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shows that the presence of women in government ministries in Afghanistan is only around 15 percent.
The survey shows women constitute only 15 percent of the employees in some 17 ministries.
According to the survey, there is a 30 to 60 percent female presence in the ministry of education, ministry of labor and social affairs and ministry of women's affairs.
USAID has also raised deep concerns over the delicate role of women in these government institutions.
The survey noted that security threats, negative perception of women working outside of their homes, women and girls being harassed on the streets, and the lack of proper working environments are the main reasons behind a weak presence of women working in government.
"Survey shows that women's presence in some four ministries which are run by women are between 30 to 60 percent. There are 60 percent women workers in the ministry of labor and social affairs, 40 percent in the ministry of women affairs while there is 14 percent women employees in the ministry of higher education and there is only six percent women presence in the ministry of counter-narcotics," the survey read.
The following shows the level of women presence in some government institutions.
60 percent in the Ministry of Labour,Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD)
40 in ministry of women affairs
30 percent in ministry of education
14 percent in the ministry of higher education
6 percent in the ministry of labor and social affairs
6 percetn in the ministry of counter narcotis.
4 percent in the ministry of agriculture.
"to encourage a hospitable environment for female staff working in government institutions and to ensure there is a safe work space for young women to be free of sexual harassment, discrimination and policy gaps that affect the women," said Diana Bowden, director of women projects in Afghanistan.
On August 2015, the Afghan parliament approved an act preventing the harassment of women and girls in government institutions, the law was outlined by the ministry of women's affairs.
But it is believed that no government departments have implemented the regulation except the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
"If those who are harassing the women and girls in government and non-government institutions are held accountable, they will no longer commit such acts and this will also decrease the disturbances," said minister of women's affairs Dilbar Nazari.
"Disparaging traditions is one of the key elements of problems for women," said the technical deputy minister of women's affairs.
It has been recommended in the survey that there is need to ensure a healthy working environment for women till 2020 in order to increase the presence of women in government institutions by 30 percent.
President Ashraf Ghani frequently calls for greater women participation in government.(Tolonews)