The birth of a boy is usually a cause for celebration in Afghanistan but girls are generally seen as a burden.

And that is why they fail.

N.O.W. will be addressing the crimes committed due to Sharia law as soon as they deal with this important matching funds problem, because Violence Against Women is not acceptable.

Because the NATIONAL Organization for Women's purview extends to the lawless lands of Afghanistan now all of a sudden?

Joe's Biden's VAWA is supposed to help abused women in the US what does that have to do with Afghanistan?

After you've finished constructing all those straw men do you like to sit around with a piece of straw in yer teeth congratulating yourself on the fine workmanship?

Spud always wondered.

Unless you are saying that NOW and the Dems are totally unaware of and unsympathetic to the plight of women in Afghanistan?

In which case Spud gets to call you a bald face liar ...again.

Never gets old, does that.

Be Well.

Bowing to pressure from religious extremists, President Hamid Karzai has backed the Personal Status Law permitting Shia men to deny their wives food and sustenance if they refuse to obey their husbands' sexual demands. The final version of the legislation also grants guardianship of children exclusively to fathers and grandfathers and requires women to get permission from their husbands to work. Further, the law allows rapists to avoid prosecution by paying victims who are injured while being raped! International public outrage as well as an outcry from Afghan women's rights leaders earlier this year caused Karzai to reconsider this barbaric set of proposals. Karzai was criticized for backing the regressive Personal Status Law as being a trade for votes from the Shia minority, which constitutes about 20 percent of the country's 33 million population. But the new law quietly took effect on July 27, with little improvement, according to Human Rights Watch.

Other news is somewhat more positive. Thanks to continuing pressure from women's rights activists in Afghanistan and abroad, there has been a positive action in the Parliament that suggests there is some hope for Afghan women. In mid-July, President Karzai signed a bill which would punish those who perpetrate violence against women. Under this bill, men who have prevented women from getting an education, working, or obtaining healthcare can be punished for up to six months in prison. This is a commendable act by the Afghan government, but it is not nearly enough. And, as we have seen in other countries, laws to protect women are often ignored.

Passage of the Afghan Women Empowerment Act (S. 229) is crucial. This bill will fully commit the U.S. government in helping advance the rights and well-being of Afghan women. It will provide necessary equipment, medical supplies, and other healthcare assistance in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Women and children will have greater access to life-saving immunizations. Constant exposure to violence can have detrimental effects on the mental health of women; this bill will establish programs to provide mental health services.

In addition, S. 229 would establish primary and secondary schools for girls that will offer mathematics, sciences, and languages as well as expand technical and vocational training for women to develop skills needed to support their families. Funding would be provided for programs to protect women and girls against various forms of violence such as sexual assault, physical abuse, trafficking, abduction, and exploitation. This includes developing emergency shelters for women and girls who are facing danger and violence.

From NOW.

Spud's got Paneoass posting links to NOW now?

^___^

Sweet!

Luff this place.

Be Well.

Ya know what this thread needs now?

That's right, a plug for Emily's List as well.

"EMILY's List members are dedicated to building a progressive America by electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. We believe in the power of women as candidates, as contributors, as campaign professionals, and as voters to bring about great change in our country.

EMILY's List is committed to a three-pronged strategy to elect pro-choice Democratic women: recruiting and funding viable women candidates; helping them build and run effective campaign organizations; and mobilizing women voters to help elect progressive candidates across the nation.

By working together, we can make a difference -- and change the face of American politics."

"She lived in a hell not a house,"

Fundamentalist religion will do that.

Be Well.

Note that the very first specific thing on the agenda is killing babies.

3 things.

First, that wasn't the first specific thing on that list.

Second, Abortion doesn't kill babies.

It kill zygotes and fetuses for the most part.

Killing babies is illegal.

Third, you are a moran, get a brain.

Be Well.