Ending Violence Against Women: Building Equality and Justice in Afghanistan

Speech at the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Ceremony

Keypoints: 

• Women’s Equality: Women are equal citizens with full rights and dignity.
• Condemn Violence: All forms of violence against women must be stopped.
• Religious & Legal Basis: Islam and law protect women’s rights.
• Empowerment & Education: Women need education and opportunities to lead.
• Civil Society & Media: NGOs and media should raise awareness against violence.
• Government Accountability: State institutions must enforce laws and ensure equality.
• Cultural Change: End gender bias and promote respect for women.
• Collective Responsibility: Everyone must unite for a violence-free society.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Honorable Dr. Abdullah, the First Lady of the country, honorable Minister of Women’s Affairs, esteemed members of the Cabinet, Dr. Sima Samar, all brothers and sisters, members of the diplomatic corps, and distinguished guests!

Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Khosh Keldig! Welcome! Shā rāghlāst!

Today is a day of commemoration, diagnosis, and decision. We commemorate the status of woman as a human being and a personality equal to man—not as a secondary individual or a second-class citizen.

There is a global, regional, Islamic, and national consensus—rooted in the mandate of our Constitution—that woman is a first-class personality, respected by all. This Government of National Unity is fully committed to her role as a citizen.

The Diagnosis: Bridging the Gap between Ideal and Reality

Today, the goal we celebrate is vastly distant from the reality we live. Our diagnosis is that violence against women is both a global phenomenon and, unfortunately, a serious national problem. Our sister [Fatima from Baghlan Province], who spoke earlier, exemplifies the fact that today we have the courage to voice our pain. I thank these women for their bravery, courage, and iron will. It truly requires immense courage for an Afghan girl to stand before the entire nation and recount the agony she has endured and the oppression she has witnessed. This is the beginning of a national discourse. I ask all our people to consider this pain as their own—not the pain of one girl, but the pain of all the daughters of Afghanistan.

Our decision, following this diagnosis, is to take the actions we have initiated—as mentioned by Dr. Abdullah—and multiply them ten or twenty-fold. The relationship between man and woman is perhaps the most difficult, complex, and fundamental of all human relations. It is my hope that the respect the President shows the First Lady, and the respect my son Tarek shows my daughter Mariam, becomes a model so that every Afghan man respects his wife at that level, and every Afghan boy considers his sister of equal importance. The First Lady and I have two biological children, but we have fifteen million spiritual children. Our request to each of them is to make fundamental respect for women and their personality a supreme goal of their lives. Without this, the pains of our society will not be healed.

Divine Mandate and Historical Legacy

As always, our reference is the Word of God and the Prophetic Sunnah. If the Holy Quran names human beings as the vicegerents (Khalifa) of Allah on Earth and honors them with inherent dignity, this status is not exclusive to men; women and men enjoy it equally. Let us not forget that the first person to embrace the faith was Bibi Khadija. Violence and mistreatment of women are in total contradiction to the status of vicegerency and the dignity that Allah has bestowed upon humankind. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as recorded in the Sunan an-Nasa'i and other books of Hadith, declared that women must be treated with kindness, stating: "Men who mistreat their wives are not among the best of you." A man who mistreats women cannot be considered good, and society must reject him, for this is the guidance of the Prophet of Islam ﷺ. Disrespecting the status of women and committing violence against them is both a violation of Islamic teachings and in conflict with international laws and norms.

The experience of Muslims during the peak of Islamic civilization shows that when oppression against women is prevented and equal opportunities are provided, they play an effective role in political, social, cultural, and scientific life. No one can ignore the great roles played by the pure mothers of the believers at the dawn of Islam. Under the guidance of Bibi Khadija and Bibi Aisha (RA), women had a major role in the scientific, political, and economic life of society. In subsequent centuries, great women like Rabia Basri, Rabia Balkhi, Goharshad Begum, Zarghuna Ana, Nazo Ana, and Aisha Durrani left brilliant legacies in poetry, literature, mysticism, and politics. They achieved greatness because they were provided opportunities for education and progress, rather than being consumed in the fires of violence and discrimination. Had it not been for the sister of Amir Dost Mohammad Khan, the British might have succeeded in breaking our national uprising; she contributed both her wealth and her veil (Chadar) to the Mujahideen, saying: "If you need money, take my jewelry, and if you lack courage, wear my veil." I wear this veil on my shoulder with pride, for the veil of Afghan women is a veil of honor. In homes where violence and mistreatment prevail, the possibility of such progress is minimal.

Forms of Violence: Physical and Structural

In its simplest sense, violence against women is physical battery committed by those ignorant of Islamic teachings and deprived of proper upbringing. However, violence is not limited to physical assault; it takes many forms in word and deed. Selling a daughter or sister for a small sum of money is a most heinous form of violence that, unfortunately, we still see in our society. Depriving women of their inheritance, stripping them of their financial rights, keeping girls from education, forced marriages, and child marriages are other various forms of violence that we must fight and eliminate based on our faith and human rights. Furthermore, depriving women of their right to vote or other civil rights, and making negative comments or judgments about them, are other forms of violence that require our struggle.

A Collective Moral and Legal Duty

Countering violence against women is a moral responsibility, a legal duty, a religious obligation, and a human necessity. We do this so that our daughters can live happily alongside our sons; so that all can achieve their hopes and dreams without discrimination; and so that the men and women of our society can attain the welfare and comfort they deserve. To reach this goal, there must be cooperation and coordination between our traditional and civil institutions, alongside the purposeful efforts of our education systems and the conscious, responsible role of our media.

I am proud that our women today possess a loud collective voice and are striving to prevent violence in accordance with our religious and national principles. I thank all civil activists, both men and women, who have fought for women's rights from the bottom of my heart—especially Dr. Sima Samar, who has become a role model for Afghan women and has changed the lives of thousands. Visit Jaghori just once to see how the lives of so many children and women have changed; see the courage and eloquence of the young girls who have been inspired by her. I hope each of us takes Dr. Samar’s example seriously; if we cannot empower hundreds of girls, we can at least empower one to ten, and this will turn into a great wave.

Commitment to Institutional Reform and Safety

Your presence here keeps the Government of National Unity accountable. We are your partners in this national duty. Most of these efforts have taken place within the framework of women's rights organizations, and it is our obligation to strengthen these institutions. To the young girl who spoke earlier: the request you made regarding "Safe Houses" and the necessity for a nationwide review by the government is one we accept with our heart and soul. Our intent is that clear funding will be provided through the national budget in the future to support the deprived individuals of society.

Our esteemed scholars (Ulama) have played a vital role, and their activities through mosques and pulpits to acquaint people with our religious teachings are of particular importance. Their explanations of Islam’s strict prohibitions against violence are fundamental. Our judicial and legal institutions have also shifted their focus; the number of women in prisons has decreased to fewer than 900. Every case requires and receives investigation. We have not only set specific sentence reductions on March 8th, but in every pardon decree, we have requested special attention for women. The consensus in our judicial system has reached the conclusion that one year of imprisonment for a woman shall be considered equivalent to two years for a man.

Eliminating the Culture of Misogyny in Government

Regrettably, a major portion of violence against women today stems from a misogynist culture within government offices, which includes threats and preventing women's presence in the administration. Negative discrimination continues; your complaints regarding the CBR (Capacity for Results) process have reached me, and I pledge they will be addressed. This behavior is intolerable. It is the obligation of all of us to change this culture. The state is an instrument for creating opportunity, equality, and the implementation of the Constitution. A culture of misogyny is a violation of the Constitution and our national spirit. Everyone must know that this mindset must and can change.

A National Discourse for a Violence-Free Society

Civil institutions must strive to raise public awareness not only in cities but also in villages and districts, informing people of the evil consequences of violence. This week of eliminating violence against women is a suitable opportunity for our people to engage in a national discourse—as individuals and as a society—on the dimensions and causes of this ominous phenomenon. I thank the Minister of Women’s Affairs for expressing your views and proposals. A special session of the Cabinet will deliberate on your suggestions and take practical decisions.

The government and the nation must be united in the goal of having a society free from violence against women. Public consciousness must understand that a prosperous and happy society is impossible unless we dry up the roots of the "Vicious Tree" of betrayal and end all forms of discrimination and injustice, including gender injustice.