7 January 2008 For most Afghan women, the promises made following the fall of the Taliban are not being fulfilled. Honour killings are on the increase and women face violence whenever they try to claim their rights. “If you are a women in some areas of this country, you are not considered human”, laments Latifa Popal. “All the legal systems are in favour of men”. Theoretically, Afghanistan has one of the best constitutions in the region for women’s rights. But “because the constitution is not implemented, we might be better off not having it at all”. Female teachers are particularly vulnerable. Many have been murdered. As a result, even the parents who want to educate their daughters are too scared to. Without access to education and financial independence, women have little option but to stay with their abusive husbands and families.
