WRITTEN QUESTION E-1910/00

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE), María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) and María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Follow-up to and continuation of the Flower for the Women of Kabul campaign

Since the Taliban came to power in 1996, the women of Afghanistan have suffered brutal discrimination and repression whereby they are forced to wear the burqua (the garment that covers them completely) and denied the right to work and to attend hospitals to receive medical assistance. Numerous murders, public executions and acts of violence have been committed with Government consent.

In 1998 the Commission launched a campaign entitled, A Flower for the Women of Kabul, to raise awareness of the problems experienced by these women and to call for international support. Circumstances in Afghanistan later obliged the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) to temporarily withdraw funding from the projects and organisations operating in Kabul.

Further to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament at its part-session last December (joint text of B5-0343, 0346, 0371, 0378 and 0384/1999):

Will the Commission give details of measures taken since then and of any action further to the Flower for the Women of Kabul campaign?

Will the Commission give details of developments with regard to the decision to suspend ECHO's humanitarian aid in Kabul?

Does the Commission consider that sufficient international pressure has been brought to bear on the Taliban regime by the European Union and its Member States?

Does the Commission intend to make new proposals or suggestions to the Council to provide increased support for Afghan women?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Flower for the women of Kabul campaign was designed for a limited period to heighten international awareness of the plight of Afghan women in general and in Kabul in particular. In that regard the campaign succeeded in its objectives. No specific follow up actions were envisaged or planned at the outset. On the programming side, however, the Commission has maintained its focus on the humanitarian needs of women and children in critical sectors like health, education, sanitation and water supply.

The Commission temporarily suspended assistance to Kabul in July 1998 due to the deteriorating operational environment for humanitarian agencies brought about by Taliban directives. To address the needs of the significant numbers of displaced people that came into Kabul following the offensives of July and August 1999, the Commission resumed urgent relief aid to the city in the autumn of 1999. Although the working conditions remain challenging, it has been estimated that sufficient humanitarian space exists to gain access to and assist the target beneficiaries.

Following the failure of the Taliban regime to comply with the demands of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 by 14 November 1999, the Community adopted Common Position 1999/727/CFSP(1) concerning the restrictive measures foreseen under the United Nations Resolution. This has been followed up in February 2000 by the adoption of Council Regulation EC No 337/2000 of 14 February 2000 concerning a flight ban and a freeze on funds and other financial resources in respect of the Taliban of Afghanistan(2). The sanctions are the strongest measures taken to date to bring about the Taliban's compliance with the demands of the international community. They have been carefully framed so as to bring pressure on the Taliban whilst permitting the continuation of humanitarian assistance to the people.

To date, the sanctions have not succeeded in bringing about a change in the Taliban position. Any decision to implement further and more restrictive measures on the Taliban will have to be assessed against the humanitarian consequences of such action at a time when Afghanistan is facing a major nation-wide drought and the prospect of famine.

The Commission is committed to maintaining its programmes of humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. It does not at this time foresee any new actions specifically in favour of Afghan women. It does seek to deepen awareness of the gender issue in the design and implementation of its existing and future humanitarian aid programmes particularly in pertinent sectors like education, health, hygiene, sanitation and water. These are mainly focused on rural areas where the majority of the population live and where social indicators (health, literacy) are of greatest concern.

(1) OJ L 294, 16.11.1999.

(2) OJ L 43, 16.2.2000.