Recent events in Afghanistan have focused a critical eye on the effects of Canada’s efforts to establish a democratic system of governance committed to upholding international human rights standards.
The controversy erupted after Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a family law which declared that Shia women cannot refuse sex with their husbands and require a husband’s approval to go out in public. The law was seen as a gesture to gain support from ethnic Hazaras, a Shia Muslim minority who will be a crucial voting block in the August national elections.
Canada, along with the other multinational forces in Afghanistan, and the international community voiced their criticisms at the blatant violations of women’s rights resulting from the law. Subsequently, Karzai has ordered a review and suggested such a process will take months to complete and no doubt not be published until after the elections. Politically, he has appeased all sides.
Should Canadians be surprised that the Afghan government has decided to play politics with women’s rights? Not in the least. In fact, the Conservative government provided an example of doing just the same earlier this year by eliminating appeals to the human-rights commission for pay equity and making it a matter of collective bargaining. By doing so, pay equity will no longer be protected as a right for women but instead a privilege to be negotiated.
The decision to include this as a non-budgetary item in the Conservative government’s stimulus package was an effort to pacify its base which passed a resolution against pay equity at the party’s last convention in Winnipeg.
Therefore, it is both in Canada and Afghanistan where women’s rights are being shuffled about as bargaining chips within the political arena instead of protected and further integrated into domestic law. In each case, the erosion of equality rights for short term political gains should be condemned. To jeopardize the realization of such rights for its citizenry in pursuit of political advantage is irresponsible at best and dangerous at worst.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
