Speech by Lieutenant Colonel Hekmatshahi

International Islamic Police Women’s Conference

held

October 21 to 15, 2007

at the

Serena Hotel

Kabul, Afghanistan

The Gender Mainstreaming Unit, Afghan National Police
Lieutenant Colonel Hekmatshahi
Paper presented at the International Islamic Police Women’s Conference, held in Kabul, Afghanistan, 21-25 October, 2007

In the name God, the merciful, the compassionate.

The term “gender” refers to social and cultural relations between women and men that make non-biological distinctions between them. The term applies to social roles, and cultural, economic and political opportunities for men and women. Gender is a social construct.  In other words, gender is not determined by sex or biology, but by what society considers to be the proper roles, relations and rights for men and women.  That can mean that in different societies and in different generations of the same society, the roles, responsibilities and relationships of men and women can change. Gender roles therefore are not in-born and can be changed. Nevertheless, in many societies the female gender is treated as inferior to that of the male gender, and is limited in its freedom of action, despite universal acknowledgement that gender equality is every individual’s right.

Based on Section 22 of the Afghan Constitution concerning equality between men and women, the Gender Unit, in the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is responsible for ensuring gender equality in all departments of the MOI. It develops and proposes policies, procedures, and programs for gender equality, and analyzes the causes of violence against women, and female poverty and in the nation and finds solutions to problems, such as.

1. Measures that improve the quality of life of people, directly or indirectly
2. Contribution of women in programs that eradicate poverty, provide job opportunities, social justice, and economical directions, because women are half of the populations.

Gender programming can be intended for both sexes since its objective is to ensure equality and justice for all and to change negative influences; however, since women traditionally suffer more discrimination than men, most gender programming is designed to achieve equity for women. For achieving gender equity the following suggestions are presented:
Improving the level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of women, based on job opportunities.

1. Improving awareness of women.
2. Gender matters in government policies  

Police law enforcement can support gender equality and help resolve problems for women because they can enforce the laws that protect women and forbid gender inequality. Conferences and workshops in and out of the country can help improve awareness, provide experience, increase capacity, and improve work ability.

The objective of gender is to bring equality between men and women and make both genders proud on an equal basis.

In our war-stricken country women are damaged the most. There is a great need encourage them, to improve their professional skills and capacity, and to provide them job opportunities based on their skills.  Gender equality is extremely important in our national community.  We must reduce the problems of women and assure them that they too are able to serve their country with determination.

One of the main issues affecting gender equality is violence against women.

The United Nations Declaration on Elimination of Violence against Women (1993), explains violation against women as follows:

… violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and impairs or nullifies their enjoyment of those rights and freedoms, … violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men …

Violence is a phenomenon that women suffer just because they are women.

For the success of the Gender Unit in the Ministry of Interior Affairs we suggest the following:

1. To support, create job opportunities and pave the way for professional training and capacity building and, where possible to provide financial assistance to women who are victims.
2. To publicize and circulate in the media the teachings of Islam on violence against women and the laws of the country as well as international treaties against violence against women.
3.  Psychological treatment should be provided to women who are the victims of war.  In some cases, women are addicted in drugs owing to the war.
4. To launch a publicity campaign for recruitment of women into the Afghan National Police with assistance of governmental organizations, non- governmental organizations.
5. To develop the professional skills of all members of the Afghan National Police
6. To provide necessary office equipment and facilities for the Gender Unit so that it can properly serve women in the Ministry.
7. Establish an international association among  Muslim police women from other countries

To end, I wish unity among Muslim police women from other countries, regional stability and achievement of the objectives of the gender unit in the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

Long live peace around the world
Long live women’s unity around the world