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Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children calls for Urgent Assistance to Afghan Women's Org

New York, NY

Refugee And Afghanistan Experts Available for Comment.

New York, NY, November 20, 2001 - The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children is calling for urgent assistance for Afghan women's organizations, which play a key role in supporting refugees and have a vital part to play in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Taliban forces are entering Pakistan, where there are more than 2 million refugees, and fighting in Afghanistan is continuing, which put women and women's organizations at risk.

"Adequate security measures must be put in place to protect and support Afghan women's groups," said Mary Diaz, Executive Director of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. "These organizations have been providing healthcare and education for women in the refugee camps for many years. Many brave women have risked their lives to run schools and clinics inside Afghanistan in defiance of the Taliban. They deserve our protection as the future of Afghanistan is decided."

The Women's Commission calls for women's concerns to be made a priority in any discussions about the future of Afghanistan. Both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance have a poor track record on women's rights. The oppression of Afghan women pre-dates the current publicity of the Taliban regime. Some factions of the Northern Alliance have a history of rape and brutality which must be challenged and those responsible brought to justice. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure that women's rights are respected by whoever comes to power.

"Afghan women must fully participate in reconstruction efforts," said Mary Diaz. "While women have been the victims of twenty years of oppression, they have also emerged as leaders, especially in the refugee camps of Pakistan. Their voices deserve to be heard."

NOTE: The Women's Commission will release its report, Afghan Women's Organizations - Key Actors in Rebuilding Afghanistan and Assisting Refugees at a press conference:

Murrow Room, National Press Club
529 14th Street. N.W., #1300
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, November 21 - 10:00 a.m.

Women's Commission Experts Available for Comment or Interview:

US: Mary Diaz, Executive Director, based New York
Maha Muna, Deputy Director, based New York
UK Sippi Azerbaijani-Moghaddam, women's advisor, based in Peshawar, Pakistan (In the UK until the end of November)

Please contact Diana Quick (1) 212 551 3087 for more information or to arrange interviews.