Lobbying and defending women's rights

Cooperation between Kabul and Cologne

medica mondiale staff in Kabul and medica mondiale in Cologne cooperate closely on lobbying. Our colleagues in Kabul pass on information about important events and developments in Afghanistan to the Cologne office.

medica mondiale observes the political landscape in terms of support to Afghanistan and provides input on political activities by the international community, the EU and national governments.

Women’s rights in Afghanistan were the focus of a top-notch conference in Kabul initiated by medica mondiale with the financial support of UNHCR in Febrauary 2005.

What should be done?

We support imprisoned women and children in Kabul Prison with material assistance (blankets, sanitary articles), provide documentation on their imprisonment to the outside world to draw public attention to their illegal detention and attempt to improve their social and legal situation.

In this respect we work closely with the Ministry of Women's Affairs. As of May 2002 medica mondiale has been providing support to female staff in the legal department of Kabul's Ministry of Women's Affairs as they cooperate with female members of the Loya Jirga, seeking to influence committees taking key decisions on legislation pertaining to women's rights.

Raising awareness of women's rights
Through this work medica mondiale makes a significant contribution to respect for the human rights of women who turn to the staff of the Ministry of Women's Affairs for legal assistance in cases of divorce, disputes over custody of children or when they have suffered domestic violence. We view our role as providing specific counselling services and support to women affected by such difficulties.

We are developing political strategies that in the long-term will lead to an end to illegal imprisonment of women and girls. Much too frequently so-called "sex crimes", such as fleeing from marriages they have been coerced into, pre-marital intercourse, a desire to divorce or adultery, are employed as a pretext to throw women and girls into prison.

We are acting to ensure that the minimum age at which girls can be married is raised and that women be admitted to study at universities. Women are still disadvantaged when it comes to issue of their own passports. Attention should also be drawn to this deplorable state of affairs.
Press release: Child Marrige Report 2004

Taking part in events relevant to women

medica mondiale's concept also involves taking part on the spot in events that are important for policy on women's rights. Our current political lobbyist, Beate Ziegler was a guest at the Loya Jirga in June 2002 in Afghanistan.

Documentation on women's situation

In her documentation, author and women's rights activist, Rachel Wareham, who has been working for medica mondiale in Kabul since the end of 2001, provides many case studies and background analyses on the situation of female prisoners. Background information on the legal situation of women in Afghanistan and the mechanisms of the Afghan government also demonstrates clearly how desolate the situation remains for women in Afghanistan.

You can also obtain information on Afghanistan from the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, which aims to improve reporting form war and crisis zones and makes reliable information available.