Dr. Sima Samar

Sima Samar is the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and was the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Sudan. She is very highly thought of back home in Canada.

She spoke very well, as the key note speaker at the opening of the NGO Forum. Commented that Afghan women were not allowed to attend the 4th World Conference. Weren't allowed to attend the Nairobi Conference. Anything to do with reproductive rights forbidden. Comes from a country and experiences in other countries like the Sudan where women don't have rights. Women not allowed to have access to education or health care. Government does formally support the Beijing Platform for Action. Some are out of Afghanistan, like Sima. Yes, there are some girls now, 2 million, that are in schools now, but not quality education. Limited access to higher education. Many taking flights to India for health care - war lords and their families, those involved in the drug trade. Access to justice for women is taboo. Don't go to police. Need women police officers, women medical staff, teachers, judges.

Laws supportive of women should be known and applied. There were NO women at the recent London conference on Afghanistan - no one even raised it as a comment. Have to push - get women into higher positions at the UN. Concerned about reconstruction talk, with those who were violent towards women - who were oppressive, without even including women.

Culture and Religion are no excuse for not upholding women's human rights - other speakers made that statement today too.