The Feminist Majority has been working to pass the Afghan Women's Empowerment Act. It has now been included in an omnibus bill, which will at last provide significant humanitarian funds for Afghanistan, the most in five years. This bill, the Afghan Freedom and Security Act, is scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today.
Afghan women and girls urgently need this help. Take a moment now to urge your Representative to vote for the Afghan Freedom and Security Support Act of 2007.
Five years after the fall of the Taliban, Afghan women continue to lack basic services and are increasingly under attack by the strengthening Taliban and other militia groups who are trying to prevent them from exercising their hard-won rights. Attacks and threats against girls' schools are increasing. In fact, the United Nations estimates that every day a girls' school is burned down or a teacher killed. It is critical that we act now to prevent further deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan especially for the women and girls who are, once again, the targets of the fundamentalists determined to take away their rights.
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote tomorrow on the Afghan Freedom and Security Support Act of 2007. This bill includes the Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2007 including $5 million a year for three years for the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs, $10 million a year for three years for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and $30 million for three years for the Afghan-led nonprofits, including women-led nonprofits, providing direct services to women and girls
The Act of 2007 authorizes 1.7 billion dollars for humanitarian and economic assistance a year for three years and $320 million a year for military security, including International Security Assistance Forces and training for the Afghan Army. The assistance to women and girls includes equipment and medical supplies to health facilities "for the purpose of reducing maternal and infant mortality..." Currently, one in six women dies due to pregnancy related complications. Child immunizations and other critical health issues are also addressed in the Act as is the building of schools and literacy training for Afghan women.
Contact your Representative today and urge her/him to support the efforts of Afghan women by voting for the Afghan Freedom and Security Support Act of 2007.
For more information on the work of the Feminist Majority Foundation and our campaign for Afghan women and girls, or to receive Feminist Action Alerts, visit www.feminist.org
