Washington, DC, June 15, 2004

Released by the Office of International Women's Issues
June 25, 2004

Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky convened the fifth meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council June 15 in Washington D.C. Council members, Afghan officials and guests, and other high-ranking U.S. government officials and private Americans attended. The Afghan Co-chair, Afghan Minister of Women's Affairs Habiba Sarabi, was accompanied by her official delegation and 12 Afghan professionals, judges and scholars. In her opening remarks, the Under Secretary underscored the continued U.S. commitment to the women and government of Afghanistan, noting that Afghan has come a long way in a short time. First Lady Laura Bush hosted a lunch for the Council .

At the June meeting, the Council reviewed specific new and existing projects that assist Afghan women in areas such as education, economic empowerment, elections and political participation, and health.  Several projects will be launched this fall, such as a Women's Teacher Training Institute, an advanced entrepreneurship program for Afghan businesswomen, a $5 million USAID project to help women design, manufacture and market handicrafts, and training for Afghan women judges in civil and family law.  The Council also announced a new Health Advisory Committee to build on its earlier major initiatives, such as the $5 million Rural Education and Community Health Care Initiative (REACH), which just graduated its first class of 25 trained midwives. 

President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met briefly with the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council to reaffirm their commitment to Afghan women and their integration into Afghan civil society and government.  President Bush pledged “to continue our efforts to create opportunities for women. The United States is dedicating $5 million to fund training programs and grants for small businesses. Under the Taliban, women were oppressed, their potential was ignored. Under President Karzai's leadership, that has changed dramatically. A number of innovative programs designed in collaboration with the Afghan government are increasing the role of women in the private sector. The traditional funding we announce today -- the additional funding we announce today will provide Afghan women with small business grants and training in business management skills. As my wife, Laura, has said, no society can prosper when half of its population is not allowed to contribute to its progress. “

The Council was launched by Presidents George W. Bush and Hamid Karzai during the Afghan President's first official visit to Washington DC in January 2002.  The Council was created to help ensure the women of Afghanistan gain the skills and education denied them under the Taliban and to match private sector contributions with needs on the ground in Afghanistan. The Council meets alternately in Washington D.C. and Kabul. Previous Washington DC meetings were held on April 24, 2002 and July 15-16, 2003.  Kabul meetings were convened January 8-9, 2003, and February 24-26, 2004.