Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 22 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 September 2002. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 19 September 2002 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent action the Government has taken to protect women in Afghanistan.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent action the Government have taken to protect women in Afghanistan. [59081] Clare Short: In Afghanistan women have begun to return to work and girls are going back to school. Two women hold office in the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) and 11 per cent. of seats in the Loya Jirga are guaranteed for women. The UK is working closely with the AIA and the rest of the international community, to ensuring women's full and effective participation in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout Afghanistan. To date this includes an allocation of $1 million to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for a programme to support Afghan women's leadership through awareness raising, capacity building and gender mainstreaming; as well as local level, quick impact recovery projects supporting women. We are also providing support directly to the Ministry for Women.

Secondary information