I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3342
To require activities carried out by the United States in Afghanistan and
other countries of Central Asia relating to peace negotiations, post-
conflict reconstruction and development, refugee relief, resettlement, and
repatriation, and peacekeeping operations comply with the basic human
rights of women.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 19, 2001
Mrs. MORELLA (for herself and Mrs. MALONEY of New York) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To require activities carried out by the United States in
Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia relating
to peace negotiations, post-conflict reconstruction and de-
velopment, refugee relief, resettlement, and repatriation,
and peacekeeping operations comply with the basic
human rights of women.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Access for Afghan
Women Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Before 1996, women in Afghanistan could
exercise their basic human rights and 70 percent of
teachers, nurses, doctors, and small business owners
in Afghanistan were women.
(2) More than 90 percent of Afghan men and
women believe that women should have access to
education and work, freedom of expression, legal
protection, and participation in government. Re-
spondents also support the inclusion of women’s
human rights issues in any peace negotiations with
respect to Afghanistan.
(3) Women make up more than 75 percent of
the refugees in camps, urban areas, and villages in
Afghanistan. On the Afghanistan border with Paki-
stan many organizations, including women’s organi-
zations, are delivering critical services to refugees
and such women’s organizations have the knowledge
and experience to assist the United States in deliv-
ering effective relief aid to women.
(4) The active participation of women in the
government, economy, and society of Afghanistan is
necessary to ensure lasting peace in the region.
(5) During major conflicts in the region, women
have maintained local economies and have led the ef-
fort in rebuilding economies after conflicts. Effective
development and reconstruction assistance, including
microcredit assistance, takes into account women’s
roles as economic leaders.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO UNITED STATES AC-
TIVITIES IN CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, activities described in subsections (b) through
(e) that are carried out by the United States in Afghani-
stan and other countries of Central Asia shall comply with
the applicable requirements contained in such subsections.
(b) PEACE NEGOTIATIONS TO ESTABLISH GOVERN-
MENT OF AFGHANISTAN.—With respect to peace negotia-
tions to establish a future government of Afghanistan, the
applicable requirements are the following:
(1) Consult with and include representatives of
women’s organizations and networks from the major
ethnic groups in Afghanistan during peace negotia-
tions and post-conflict decisionmaking.
(2) Include the perspectives and advice of orga-
nizations with expertise in human rights and wom-
en’s development in decisionmaking processes relat-
ing to peace and the future government of Afghani-
stan.
(3) Ensure that the full range of human rights
of women, as described in the International Conven-
tion on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, are included in any
constitution or legal structure of a future govern-
ment in Afghanistan by including a significant num-
ber of women in the drafting of the constitution.
(c) POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVEL-
OPMENT.—With respect to activities relating to post–con-
flict stability in Afghanistan and other countries of Cen-
tral Asia, the applicable requirements are the following:
(1) Provide financial and programmatic assist-
ance for the efforts of Afghan women’s organizations
that represent the various ethnic groups.
(2) Promote multi-year women-centered eco-
nomic development programs, including programs to
assist widows and female heads of household.
(3) Increase women’s access to and ownership
of productive assets such as land, agricultural in-
puts, and microfinance, and property.
(4) Provide financial assistance for primary,
secondary, and higher education for all individuals in
Afghanistan.
(5) Provide financial assistance to build health
infrastructure and to deliver women-centered health
programs, particularly comprehensive and high qual-
ity reproductive health and family planning services.
(6) Integrate education and training programs
for former combatants with economic development
programs to encourage their reintegration into soci-
ety and to promote post-conflict stability.
(7) Support educational efforts to increase
awareness with respect to landmines, facilitate the
removal of landmines, and provide services to indi-
viduals with disabilities caused by landmines.
(8) Provide assistance to rehabilitate children
affected by the conflict, particularly child soldiers.
(d) RELIEF, RESETTLEMENT, AND REPATRIATION
OF REFUGEES.—With respect to the relief, resettlement,
and repatriation of refugees in Afghanistan and other
countries of Central Asia, the applicable requirements are
the following:
(1)(A) Take all necessary steps to protect
women refugees in camps, urban areas, and villages
fleeing from the conflict situation in Afghanistan
from violence.
(B) Take all necessary steps to ensure that
women refugees in camps, urban areas, and villages
fleeing from the conflict situation in Afghanistan are
directly receiving food aid, shelter, relief supplies,