Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-12-Speech-4-019"

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"en.20040212.1.4-019"2
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"Madam President, I wish to begin by congratulating Mr Brie on his excellent report. I would now like to address Commissioner Patten: there are two issues that I would like him to raise. In November 2003, Mr Karzai's Government allowed the enforcement of a 1970 law banning married women from the classroom which, according to the Deputy Education Minister, led to the expulsion of about two to three thousand women. Could you raise the issue of this law enforcement? Article 3 of the Afghan Constitution states that: 'No law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.' This language – designed to secure a relatively smooth approval of the new Afghan Constitution – may entail high costs for women in the future. The control of education by religious authorities is definitely a very alarming signal and an issue that should be raised. Many reports confirm that in several regions of Afghanistan there is no security for women, and education for girls is under threat. 16 attacks have been documented on girls' schools since September 2002, ranging from rocket attacks to setting schools on fire or their forced closure by gunmen. Their effect is devastating. According to the UN Development Programme, the gross enrolment ratio at primary level has been most recently calculated as being 39% for boys, with a corresponding rate for girls of just 3%. The UNICEF programme 'Back to School', launched in March 2002, gave rise to great expectations. More than three million children – one-third of them girls – flooded the classrooms in Afghanistan. However, in Kandahar, leaflets were distributed with the message 'Stop sending your women to offices and daughters to school. It spreads indecency and vulgarity. Stand ready for the consequences if you do not heed the advice.' Then, after five months, these violent attacks on girls' schools began. We know the immense challenges that confront the Afghan Transitional Authority today. The European Union and the international community should strongly support economic, social and political reconstruction. However, it is imperative that security for women throughout the country is a priority for both donors and the Afghan Government. If we fail in that, the future will be very grim."@en1
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