Blog 3: Afghan Opium Brides

There have been many reports in the media throughout the years that has highlighted the opium trafficking as well as the heroin production around the world, but particularly the Middle East. So, with all of this research, and historical evidence there is no surprise that "90% of the world’s opium, the raw source of heroin, comes from Afghanistan"  and there is also no surprise that large global organizations such as the UN and NATO have taken it upon themselves to try to eliminate these illegal "poppy farms." It is not just the eliminations of these farms that the UN and NATO have come to notice, however. The concept of "Opium Brides" has also been brought to the attention of the world. These "opium brides" are women and girls, usually the daughters of the poppy farmers whose farms and livelihoods are being destroyed, are being traded into the drug  and sex trade by their families to pay off their drug debts. 

As Una Moore, "a Kabul-based development consultant," states "the problem of ‘opium brides’ and other ‘loan brides’ is one of human trafficking and of the utter devaluing of women’s and girls’ lives." This is a global issue and a women's rights issue because the process of exchanging your daughter for product or to pay back debt is unethical. It strips these women of any right or say in their own lives. There is a push in East Asia and the Middle East for clearer and more defined rights for women and not only is this completely opposing the idea, it is a step in the opposite direction.  The International Organization for Migration (IOM), doesn't ignore that this idea of "debt marriage" has been ingrained in Afghan society for hundreds of years and argue that men often use "trading Afghan women as if they were commodities" in many more cases than just "opium brides." 

There is no 100% true data collection on this topic because many people do not feel that this is wrong, also the majority of this trade  is happening in very rural areas where there is not always the opportunity to gather information. Many national and international organizations have attempted to provide these women with some relief by providing them with shelters for battered women and "loan" or "opium brides." These shelters are currently under scrutiny by the government, media, and the drug rings in Afghanistan because of the distribution of false information about how the women are treated in these shelters. While it is very dangerous for the "opium brides" and the employees of these shelters, it is imperative for the global community to notice how large of a problem this is and take action.


http://www.theinternational.org/articles/340-afghan-opium-brides

Caroline Dawkins
2/15/2013
12:10 am