THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN ENHANCING WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

This study examines the role of international organizations in increasing the political participation of Afghan women. The current situation in Afghanistan has created a series of restrictions for women, such as traditionalism, extremism, terrorism, misconceptions and distortions of the Islam. Despite such conditions in Afghanistan and the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan, international organizations and many countries have focused on humanitarian aids, and women have also been subjected to financial projects and supports. Based on the objectives of this research, the attention of international organizations and the international community in the field of women and their empowerment projects is certainly based on a series of goals, but along with each goal, some advantages have been created for women in the case of their human and civil rights. Today, Afghan women work alongside Afghan men in public affairs and participate better in political and international affairs of Afghanistan. According to research hypotheses, Afghan women have emerged from legal restrictions based on a series of legal actions and changes with the support of the international community and international organizations, but not to the desired extent. Afghanistan's relations with many international organizations have attracted their attention for humanitarian aids. The plight of women in Afghanistan before a decade has led to a large number of humanitarian aids being provided to Afghanistan to improve the situation of women. With the effectiveness of some of those aids, it had a positive effect on the legal status of women and women rights. Although women’s rights are still being violated in many cases in some parts of Afghanistan, but the situation of women in general has improved much more than in previous decades. International organizations have generally provided two types of assistance to Afghanistan in the field of women. One part was financial and budgetary assistance, and the other was technical and operational assistance under empowerment projects. As a result, the assistance of international organizations in the field of Afghan women has been able to have a positive and significant impact on their civic and political participation. Although these assistances have not been managed more effectively and there are still many problems facing Afghan women, but mainly it had a positive impact on women rights. With the implementation of some women's empowerment projects and the support of the international community for women, the Government of Afghanistan has also undertaken several activities in the field of gender equality, which has increased the role of women in Afghanistan's political and international affairs