Media CentreNews ReleasesMedia Coverage

Action needed to stop violence related to the education of Afghan girls

photoMONTREAL - Jan. 18, 2006 - Escalating violence against the education of girls in Southern Afghanistan, including the recent murders of two teachers, must be addressed with immediate action by the government of Afghanistan and Canadian-led international security forces, says Rights & Democracy.

In a letter sent to President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Canadian Brigadier-General David Fraser, who assumes command of multinational forces operating in Southern Afghanistan next month, Rights & Democracy and other Canadian organizations working in Afghanistan expressed their grave concern over the escalating pattern of violence related to the education of girls in the region since December. The beheading of Malim Abdul Habib, a high school teacher in Habul province on Jan. 3, 2006, and the murder of Mohammed Harif, a teacher from Helmand province, last month are two recent examples of this targeted violence. Both instructors were killed by men believed to be Taliban insurgents. These latest attacks are part of a pattern of violence against girls’ education, which has also included the burning down of girls’ schools and threats against parents who send their daughters to school.

“The education of girls is a priority for Afghanistan ’s development and it is imperative that Mr. Karzai’s government and NATO’s Canadian commanders ensure that adequate protection is provided for these schools, their students and their courageous staff,” said Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy.

Rights & Democracy and its partners are calling on President Karzai and the Government of Canada to prioritize security for educational workers in Afghanistan , particularly in its restive southern provinces where Taliban intimidation and terror continues unabated.

The letter outlines a number of recommendations Rights & Democracy and its partners in Afghanistan wish to see implemented in order to ensure the security of educational workers and girl students in Afghanistan . These recommendations include:

  • Providing guards for girls’ schools in high risk areas;
  • Providing secure school buses to transport girls from villages to schools;
  • Identify the perpetrators of past attacks and bring them to justice.

The complete text of this letter is available on the Women’s Rights in Afghanistan Fund Web site, www.wraf.ca

Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan, independent Canadian institution created by an Act of Parliament in 1988 to promote, advocate and defend the democratic and human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. In cooperation with civil society and governments in Canada and abroad, Rights & Democracy initiates and supports programmes to strengthen laws and democratic institutions, principally in developing countries.

For More Information

Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.