Kabul, July 18, 2007

At the ninth meeting of the U.S. Afghan Women's Council (USAWC) in Kabul on July 18, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky stressed the importance of investing in Afghan women for the future prosperity of Afghanistan. USAWC co-chair, Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, noted the improved situation for Afghan women since the fall of the Taliban and called for continued cooperation to realize the greater emancipation of women. Afghan Minister of Women's Affairs, Dr. Hussn Banu Ghazanfar, also an USAWC co-chair, described some of the continuing problems and challenges faced by Afghan women. Discussion at the meeting focused on new and ongoing projects to assist women in the areas of literacy and education, health care, and economic and political empowerment. A special Council project, Ayenda, to assist Afghan children was also raised. [more]