|
|
After 20 years of war, Afghans
went to the polls for the first time on Oct. 9, 2004. Human Rights
Watch's Afghanistan experts, on hand to witness the elections, reported the mood at most polling stations was jubilant,
and understandably so. The Taliban had threatened to violently disrupt
the elections. In the weeks and months leading up to the polls, voters
were intimidated and activist women
faced threats. Yet election day passed without any report of serious violence.
Problems remain. Since the fall of the Taliban, Human Rights Watch has
documented criminality and abuses
by warlord forces all over the country. Local factions are not the
only problem. In the south and southeast of the country, Taliban remnants
and other anti-government forces outside Afghanistan's political framework
have further aggravated security conditions by attacking humanitarian workers
and coalition and Afghan government forces.
Women and girls bear some of the worst
effects of Afghanistan's insecurity. Conditions are generally are better
than under the Taliban, but women and girls continue to face severe governmental
and social discrimination. Those who organize protests or criticize local
rulers face threats and violence.
Soldiers and police routinely harass women and girls, even in Kabul city.
To the Photos... |
|
|
|
