LETTER SENT TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR RAWA

Dear Prime Minister Chrètien:

Since the bombing of Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, there has been much discussion about who will replace the Taliban. To date, no credible organizations have been named.

The Canadian government must do everything it can to ensure that the people of Afghanistan are given the opportunity to develop a system of governance that will create a prosperous and peaceful society.

Mothers Are Women (MAW) is a Canadian support and advocacy group for mothers who seek equality, choice, and recognition for those doing unpaid work. As feminists and caregivers, members of Mothers Are Women have long been troubled by how best to support the ordinary people, most especially the women and children, who are caught at the centre of the crisis in Afghanistan.

These people have suffered famine, brutality, and displacement at the hands of successive fundamentalist regimes for the past two decades. MAW asks that the Canadian government do the following:

1. Work with the United Nations to develop a reconstruction plan for Afghanistan that includes organizations and NGOs with a history of working in the area.

In particular, MAW asks the Canadian government to recognize and help the dedicated and brave members of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).

This organization has been working for more than 20 years to improve the quality of life for Afghans. On their web-site, RAWA is described as “a political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy, and women’s rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan.”

The members of RAWA risk their lives to provide help inside Afghanistan and in the refugee camps in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, RAWA has secret schools for women and children. In Pakistan, RAWA provides education, opportunities to learn job-related skills such as carpet-weaving, and mobile medical teams who provide health care and medicine to those in need.

2. Focus Canada's response on working with the United Nations to set-up field hospitals and refugee camps so that humanitarian aid can be administered safely to those in need.

3. Urge the United Nations to identify and impose sanctions on those countries that are sponsoring terrorism.

4. Insist that the United Nations, NATO, and the United States not install the Northern Alliance or any other ultra-fundamentalist factions as the next government of Afghanistan once the Taliban is ousted.

It is well documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that the human rights records of all these groups, especially with respect to women, are every bit as bad as the Taliban’s record.

Canada is well known for its international peacekeeping efforts. It is now time for Canada to share our experience and resources in this area with the international communiy.

Together we can help the people of Afghanistan build a society where everyone’s rights are respected.

Sincerely,
Lisa Menard
On behalf of the members of Mothers Are Women

Response from the Prime Minister's Office

Media Release

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