While women in Afghanistan today are still among the most disadvantaged in the world, slowly their ability to explore and achieve improved economic potential is getting healthier and is generating hope for a brighter future for them and their families. And that bodes well for all of Afghanistan. According to experts, there isn't a better way to improve a country's living conditions than by empowering women. Countries' successes are also the success of their women.
There is an immoral link between the way women were treated by the oppressive Taliban in Afghanistan and the hateful actions of the al-Qaeda terrorists. Under the Taliban, women in Afghanistan were forbidden to attend schools, to access health care, to work and even to appear in public unless hidden behind the head-to-toe burqas. Long before Taliban were at war with the civilized world, they were at war with half of their population.
Today, Afghan women are struggling to pave the way for achievements, to prove to the world that they can build up community basis and light spots in society affairs. The proper treatment of women in post-Taliban Afghanistan can be a harbinger of a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic future for that war-torn nation.
They will make clear that, with support from the international community, there is little doubt that the power of women can be quickly unleashed to the benefit of all the people in Afghanistan. That is not to say women will become "westernized," or abandon important religious or cultural principles. The restoration of women's rights includes the right of free choice.
The freedom to wear a burqa if one desires—not to be forced to be under the pain of death. The empowerment of women also includes the equal access to education and the decision to become a doctor, or a homemaker. The freedom to worship in the manner of one's choosing. There are many factors involved inhibiting women to express their abilities. Traditional beliefs, lack of literacy, low women economy and financial deficiencies.
There are villages throughout rural Afghanistan where women are prevented or limited in being allowed to venture outside of their homes. Though women are not as timid and subservient within most Afghan homes as we might believe, there are still too many instances where marriage amounts to glorified female slavery. A major contributor to that problem is the practice of arranged marriages. It seems to be a part of the culture that is difficult to shake.
Adding to the problem is a lack of access to health care for many women. There is often a lack of clinics in many of the rural villages, and female doctors are virtually nonexistent — education, again, the key factor. Major health issues often require families to take their loved ones to neighboring countries for proper care.
When women have access to financial backing and infrastructure support they can launch successful enterprises and improve productivity. Results from even modest investments in women in developing countries are showing success.
This is in keeping with studies that have document that financial empowerment, in many cases, helps women acquire more self–esteem, more respect within their families, and has even been linked to decreases in domestic violence.
Most importantly, it lifts women out of poverty, making it a high priority for today's Afghan women. By empowering women with the freedom to choose their own future, we can help Afghanistan become a symbol for people elsewhere who have yet to share in the opportunities provided when human rights include women's rights.
We can start by including women in the rebuilding process in Afghanistan Investment is a fundamental factors of development in economy of a country, especially a war-torn and economically frustrated one like Afghanistan. One important reason for the underdevelopment of Afghanistan is lack of proper attention to women's creative role, their ability and leadership potential.
Women constitute half of population in Afghanistan and, practically they are kept isolated from mainstream decision-making processes and political spheres. Investment in women empowerment in Afghanistan obviously requires sustainable and strategically long-term projects to provide an incubating environment for them to harness their potential and overcome the long-standing obsolete mindset and stereotypes that have underestimated their individual and social role.
If we accept the basic statistic that 49 percent of the populations is made by women, if we accept that there is at least one woman in each Afghan family, if we accept that women constitute the core foundation of Afghan society, than we should also accept that they have the right to be respected and have the equitable chance to flourish their potential.
Afghan women have had effective entrepreneurial role in the country's macroeconomic activities. As evidences indicate, most of our dry fruit products are packed by women, so we should believe and be convinced that investing on this part of society is essential and beneficial.
Therefore, there should be a corresponding strategy to improve the family economy based on women influence. In fact, by planning and doing such programs we ensure and build our future generation success and improvements. Raising women's education and literacy make them train our future generation. Thus, we make firm the basis of future generation indirectly.
In the last year, Afghan government in partnership with international community and afghan women rights activists have taken some meaningful strides to restore human dignity and improve the social standing of Afghan women.
Afghan women do have marginal role in politics, economy, sports, education and other aspects of the society. But a real and enduring success depends on continued commitment, partnership and assistance on part of all parties- including women themselves- to deliver those promises to concrete and sustainable achievements.