Islamic Republic of Afghanistan NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN (NAPWA) THE GOVERNMENT’S MAIN VEHICLE FOR IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND COMMITMENTS TO ADVANCE THE STATUS OF WOMEN 2007-2017 1 بِ سِمِ ِللاِِّالرِحِمِنِِالرِحِ یمِ ّ ّ In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE .......................................................................................................... 5 MINISTER’S MESSAGE ............................................................................................................. 6 I. ANALYSIS OF CONTEXT ..................................................................................................... 9 1. OVERVIEW OF WOMEN‘S SITUATION ....................................................................................... 7 2. STATE MEASURES TO ADVANCE WOMEN‘S STATUS ..........................................................10 II. VISION, MISSION, GOAL AND STRATEGIES .......................................................... 15 1. VISION ..............................................................................................................................................13 2. MISSION ...........................................................................................................................................13 3. GOALS ..............................................................................................................................................14 4. STRATEGIES ....................................................................................................................................14 5. OVERVIEW OF SECTORAL STRATEGIES ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. III. POLICY FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................. 23 PILLAR 1: SECURITY 30 IV. SECURITY......................................................................................................................... 31 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................24 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................25 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................26 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................27 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................30 PILLAR 2: GOVERNANCE, RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS 44 V. LEGAL PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ......................................................... 46 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................37 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................38 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................40 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................42 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................43 VI. LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION ................................................. 57 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................48 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................49 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................50 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................51 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................54 3 PILLAR 3: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 69 VII. ECONOMY, WORK AND POVERTY............................................................................ 71 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................61 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................62 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................63 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES: .......................................................................................................65 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................68 VIII. HEALTH ........................................................................................................................... 82 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................72 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................74 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................74 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................76 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................79 IX. EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................... 93 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................83 2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................84 3. ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ........................................................................................................85 4. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................87 5. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................................................................90 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 105 X. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY .............................................................................. 105 1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................95 2. THE NAPWA PROCESSES .............................................................................................................96 3. SUSTAINING MECHANISMS ........................................................................................................99 4. ENABLING STRUCTURES ...........................................................................................................102 ANNEXES 107 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The advancement of women has always been central to our pursuit of national peace and reconstruction. From the Bonn Agreement to the Constitution, Afghanistan Compact and Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy (I-ANDS), we have remained steadfast in our commitment to pursue gender equality and the empowerment of women in all spheres of life. As articulated in the I-ANDS, it is the goal of Government to eliminate discrimination against women, develop their human capital, and promote their leadership in order to guarantee their full and equal participation in all aspects of life. It is time to work for the realization of this goal. I endorse the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) as an initial vehicle of government for implementing its gender commitments in the Afghanistan Compact, I-ANDS and other national and international policy instruments on women. I direct all ministries and instrumentalities of government, including provincial governments, to begin the implementation of this plan by including NAPWA in their ministry/provincial plans and budgets. All government instrumentalities are directed to report their performance on the implementation of this plan to my office every six months through the Ministry of Women‘s Affairs I also enjoin all sectors of society and our international partners to help make the vision of this plan a reality. Let it not be said that the status of women did not improve considerably under the reign of peace and reconstruction in our country. To the women of Afghanistan, the implementation of this Plan is a sacred pledge that I will unceasingly pursue throughout my term. SGD. HAMID KARZAI President 5 MINISTER’S MESSAGE The full implementation of the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) is a high level benchmark under the Afghanistan Compact and the I-ANDS. With this National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan,