Afghan Women in Kabul Prison Over 'Moral' Crimes

            Although efforts to increase women's rights have started to become more apparent in Afghanistan, women are still treated unfairly and less equal than men. The Taliban were thrown out 12 years ago which ended 5 years of rule and regressive laws that enforced a tribal tradition and culture more than religious compulsions. These rules were denying girls schooling, ordering women to stay indoors unless they were accompanied by a male, and in some severe cases even blackening the first story windows so that prying eyes could not see the women within. In the first years after the Taliban's removal, in December 2001, strides seemed to be made for women, schools opened, women came out of their houses, many still in burqas but now they were appearing on tv and getting elected to parliament. But women activists in Kabul argue that within a few years of these improvements and the ball was dropped on women's rights once again. The article explains a few cases of women sentenced to jail time for committing "moral crimes." These crimes could be considered women leaving their husbands, refusing to accept a marriage arranged by their  parents, or choosing to leave their parents home with a man of their choice. The article tells story's of women who were placed in jail for committing a moral crime.

          From a sociological perspective, the fact that these women are still being treated this way is something that some would consider unethical. Just when women were starting to make improvements, some of their newly found rights were taken away.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/women-kabul-prison-accused-moral-crimes-18911495#.UXGd3KPCvQJ

Alice Gunning

4/19/13, 3:41 PM

Morocco Slow to Enforce Laws on Women's Rights

A girl at the police station was not sure how old she was, either 13 or 14. As she was sitting on chair in the police station, she told a chilling account of being gang raped and she said she had no relatives willing to shelter her. Like many unmarried young girls in Morocco, she was afraid to admit to having a sexual relationship because of the social stigma but also because it is illegal to have had sex outside of marriage due to factors such as religion. In 2012, 16-year-old Aminia Filali committed suicide after a judge and her parents made her marry her alleged rapists, causing a national and international uproar. In 2004, Morocco changed its code of family law, shifting away from Islamic principles by granting more rights to women regarding divorce and polygamy, and rising the marriage age for women from 15 to 18. However, conservative judges have been finding ways to marry in 90% of the cases that have appeared more before them, according to a 2010 data report by the Justice Ministry. And while human rights groups are urging Moroccan leaders to further reinforce women’s rights amending the penal code remains a sensitive issue. To avoid more tragedies like the Filali suicide, rights groups say that Morocco must change article 475 in its penal code which allows for a charge to be dropped in cases of statutory rape if the two parties get married. One interpretation of this provision has allowed rapists to swap the charges against them for a wedding ring and a child bride. In January, the Justice Ministry issued a statement saying it was in favor of abrogating Article 475 and human rights groups are confident it will be struck down by Parliament. The Islamist-led government, however, is not showing much impetus to act. From a sociologist perspective, you can see that religion has a huge influence on how the government handles things. Since religion shapes almost every aspect of life in Morocco, the rights of women may be a much larger issue at hand. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/11/world/middleeast/morocco-slow-to-enforce-laws-on-womens-rights.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

4:50 PM, 4/12/13 

Alice Gunning 

Women’s Rights Could Destroy Society, Countries Should ‘Reject and Condemn’ UN Declaration

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood: Women’s Rights Could Destroy Society, Countries Should ‘Reject and Condemn’ UN Declaration

On March 14^th, 2013, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood warns that a U.N. declaration on women’s rights could destroy society by allowing a woman to travel, work, and use contraception without her husband’s approval and letting her control family spending. President Mohamed Mursi of the Islamist party outlined 10 reasons why Muslim countries should “reject and condemn” the declaration, which the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is racing to negotiate a consensus deal by Friday. Egypt has joined Iran, Russia and the Vatican in threatening to derail the women’s rights declaration by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice last week touted at the commission- a global policy-making body created in 1946 for the advancement of women- progress made by the U.S. in reducing the rate of violence against women by their partners. The contrasting views show the gap that needs to be breached in negotiations on the declaration, which this year is focusing on urging an end to violence against women and girls. Last year, the commission failed to agree on a theme of empowering rural women due to similar disagreements.

For a sociological perspective this particular issue regarding women is a pretty terrible thing to read about. You would think that by this day and age, the rights of women would be more equal globally. If the UN does reject the declaration, more problems will come. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/14/egypt-womens-rights-un-declaration_n_2879081.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

3:23 PM, 4/5/13

Alice Gunning

Blog 7: Women Finding Their Way in German Politics

              In Germany, where much is taken earnestly and politicians can be stubborn, Ms. Dreyer who is 52 has made headlines for her wide smile. Her party which is called social democrats, touted her sunny approach in a campaign that sold her as someone as “beloved as free beer and days off in the summer.” Ms. Dreyer is a prime example of how women in Germany are beginning to make their marks in politics. During the 11 years that she spent as labor minister of her state, she became known for tackling problems at the source. Her character and reputation defy what she has said is a condition that steeled her for the rough-and-tumble of politics. Her political agenda is heavily focused on issues of social justice. Within weeks of taking office on January 16^th, she has already pushed an initiative to enact a nationwide minimum wage. This is an issue that has been resisted for years by the German political and business establishments. Another women making progress in politics, who also is a social democrat, is Hannelore Kraft. She has retained her governorship and has won a clear majority in the state legislature for years. The article goes on to explain a few other powerful women in Germany who are making a stand in politics.

          From a sociological perspective this article once again points out the inequality women face globally. No matter what country you travel too, women are always going to be treated less fairly than men. However, this article gives light to the fact that women are progressing so much in politics in Germany. One flaw with this is that it’s the year 2013, this accomplishment should have happened years ago.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/world/europe/women-finding-their-way-in-german-politics.html?ref=women&_r=1&

11:32 AM, 3/20/13

Alice Gunning

Blog 6: In Cuba, Equality Is Two-Sided

As soon as Raul Castro stepped down from the presidency a new report on the status of Cuban women arrives to stir further debate in Washington's Policy circles, among conservative Cubans and among feminists. The report was titled "Women's Work: Gender Equality in Cuba and the Role of Women Building Cuba's Future," which credits the top leaders of the revolution like Fidel and Castro with mandating and enforcing rules and laws guaranteeing gender equality and women's rights, which makes Cuba one of the highest- ranking nations in the advancement of women. The report was written by Sarah Stephens who is executive director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas. After a debate of research in Cuba, Ms. Stephens and her associates train their eyes on the progress women have made in 4 decades and examine whether it can be sustained. Although many of the women living in Cuba deal with sexism and macho ism everyday there are still feel-good elements to women's progress in Cuba. However less than 40% of working age women are employed and on average they earn less than 1/2 of what men make. They also lack female leaders in high ranks of government and party. For now, with its poor economy and lack of jobs Cuba is losing people. In 2011 alone, 40,000 Cubans, more than half of them being women, left the island. "I'm the only one left," a secretary lamented. "All of my friends are abroad."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/americas/06iht-letter06.html



1:15 PM, 3/8/13
Alice Gunning

Blog 5: Who Will Protect Afghan Women When the U.S. is Gone?

Afghan women worry: Who will protect our rights after the U.S. is gone?

On Valentine’s Day dozens of Afghan activists marched in Kabul to denounce violence against women. As the U.S. prepares to withdraw from the war, Afghan women fear that their rights will be taken away. On Tuesday’s State of the Unions address, President Obama announced that 34,000 American Troops will be returning home from Afghanistan over the next year which will bring the war that began nearly 12 years ago one step closer to an end. However, nothing on Obama’s fact sheet mentioned anything about Afghan women. When Afghanistan was under Taliban control, women lived in hellish conditions. They were forced to wear a Burqa at all times, banned from leaving the home without a close male relative present, banned from going to school, among other restraints. Punishments for going against any of these rules including whipping, beating, verbal abuse, and sometimes even public stoning. Once the Taliban was driven out, life improved considerably for Afghan women. The Constitution of Afghanistan was ratified, putting in to place equal rights for men and women (at least on paper).  Which soon led to more girls enrolling in school, more midwifes being put in place, and an increase in women in office. Although the rights of women are progressing, few people in government or anywhere else have seemed to notice. Without proper acknowledgement of improved rights for women in Afghanistan, advocates fear that their newfound rights are in danger of being forgotten as quickly as they were reclaimed. Unless women’s rights are specifically included in policy discussions moving forward, Afghan women will be particularly vulnerable one U.S. forces withdraw. Women and other activist believe that once the war is over, the Taliban may have a chance to regain control.

This article proves that the newly improved rights of women living in Afghanistan do have the chance to be denounced as soon as the U.S. ends the war. If the Constitution of Afghanistan is not followed there is a chance women will lose their new found strength. It is heartbreaking to see how the women’s new found rights were almost completely ignored by society as a whole.  If more people/ organizations were aware or paid more attention to this, perhaps there would be more promise for the women’s rights to stay in place.

11:41 AM, 2/27/13

Alice Gunning 

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/02/15/afghan-women-worry-who-will-protect-our-rights-after-the-u-s-is-gone/