The vast majority of Afghanistan’s population professes to be followers of Islam. Over 1400 years ago, Islam demanded that men and women be equal before God, and gave them various rights such the right to inheritance, the right to vote, the right to work, and even choose their own partners in marriage. For centuries now in Afghanistan, women have been denied these rights either by official government decree or by their own husbands, fathers, and brothers. During the rule of the Taliban (1996 – 2001), women were treated worse than in any other time or by any other society. They were forbidden to work, leave the house without a male escort, not allowed to seek medical help from a male doctor, and forced to cover  themselves from head to toe, even covering their eyes. Women who were doctors and teachers before, suddenly were forced to be beggars and even prostitutes in order to feed their families.

Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, many would agree that the political and cultural position of Afghan women has improved substantially. The recently adopted Afghan constitution states that “the citizens of Afghanistan – whether man or woman- have equal rights and duties before the law”. So far, women have been allowed to return back to work, the government no longer forces them to wear the all covering burqa, and they even have been appointed to prominent positions in the government. Despite all these changes many challenges still remain. The repression of women is still prevalent in rural areas where many families still restrict their own mothers, daughters, wives and sisters from participation in public life. They are still forced into marriages and denied a basic education. Numerous school for girls have been burned down and little girls have even been poisoned to death for daring to go to school.

- by Abdullah Qazi

http://www.afghan-web.com/woman/

I think that no matter wheither you are female or male, you should have the same equal rights. Its not fair in this case where women aren’t allowed to leave the house and litterly be slaves to their husbands, fathers, or brothers. I think that its great that they have changed the laws a bit so that women could return back to work if they chose, the no longer are forced to wear the covering burqa. Even though they may have more rights then before there is still problems in the rural ares. women have been allowed to return back to work, the government no longer forces them to wear the all covering burqa. But there is still problems in the rural areas where women are still forced to do these things where still their marriages are arranged and they are still denied right to education. I believe that a big problem is education. Education is the right path to get out of situations and lack of education i think is kinda of a way for the country’s government to keep its people in the country. Education is the key, without it you aren’t taught your rights, aren’t being safe, and you don’t know any better from what others tell you. I think that this is a big problem. I feel very thankful and appreciative of being able to live in a country where I can getup every morning and know that either I’m going to school or going to work. I think that fact that I have an education and I’m able to express myself the way that I want to. I feel thankful for the last 13 years I have be given the oppertunity to attend school and get an education to better my life later. I just wish that all the other countries that are lacking in this great thing can see how good rights for people are a good thing.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090307/gangs_crime_090307/20090307?hub=Canada

Updated Thu. Sep. 21 2006 10:00 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Vancouver’s homeless population is growing at such a fearsome rate that it could triple to 3,000 people by the time visitors arrive for the 2010 Olympic Games, says a report released by an advocacy group Thursday.

"Without immediate action, the estimated 2.3 million visitors who come to our city to see the Olympics will find a Vancouver in the midst of an urban epidemic of poverty," said Pivot Legal Society spokesman David Eby as he released the report.

The burgeoning homeless population would be "clear evidence of a broken commitment to address the impact of the 2010 Olympics," Eby said.

When Vancouver bid for the 2010 games, federal, provincial and municipal governments pledged to protect the city’s rental housing and ensure no one would be left homeless because of the Games.

The city estimates that about 1,200 people currently sleep outside without shelter on a nightly basis.

"We have three years left," Eby said. "Now is the time to grab those opportunities."

Pivot, a non-profit group that develops advocacy campaigns for marginalized people, said the crisis can be averted if existing low-income housing is preserved or replaced. Between June of 2005 and June this year, the city lost more than 400 low-income rooms due to closings of hotels, conversions or rent increases.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan didn’t argue with the advocacy group’s findings.

"It’s a civic, and provincial and national shame," Sullivan told CTV News. "We need to do better and I am working on some initiatives to work with the federal and provincial governments and even to bring in private sector funding.

“I’m committed to that,” Sullivan said.

Pivot says the city needs 800 new units every year to keep up with the demand, and is calling on the province and city to provide a three-part solution:

1. provide money for more low-cost housing
2. raise welfare rates and
3. force building owners to repair and improve their low-income units by enforcing existing city bylaws

A room in the Burns Block of Vancouver’s downtown east side was home to Veronica Crow Eagle for eight years. It wasn’t a home she was proud of. People urinated on the floor of her shared bathroom and garbage, including used hypodermic needles, piled up in the public spaces.

But the 61-year-old, who suffers from arthritis and a painful intestinal inflammation called Crohn’s disease, was hard pressed to find replacement lodging when the building failed a fire safety inspection. She and the other tenants were forced onto the street.

Crow Eagle, who has found a new place to live, considers herself lucky.

“Most of the rents run $400 to $465,” she said.

Not everyone can afford those rates. The standard shelter allowance for welfare recipients is $325 dollars a month. The rate hasn’t increased in 12 years.

“There’s hardly anyone who’ll give you a rent for $325,” said Crow Eagle.

Garvin Snider, who has lived and worked in Vancouver’s downtown east side for four years, said he’s watched the number of homeless grow without a matching increase in social housing.

“Transit costs, food costs, every cost has gone up,” but not welfare rates, he said. “People are struggling to meet basic needs of everything here — everything.”

Salvation Army shelters turn away as many as one out of every four people every night because there aren’t enough beds.

“We wish that we could work with everybody and provide shelter spaces for everybody,” said said Salvation Army Capt. John Murray. “But the reality is that the economics and practicalities … make it very difficult.”

During peak season in winter, the network of Salvation Army shelters provides beds for 500 people.

“That’s an extraordinary amount,” Murray said, “when you consider we’re one organization trying to reach out and respond to the needs of people coming to our doors.”

With a report from CTV’s Mike Killeen and Janet Dirks in Vancouver

This problem of homelessness is a big problem for the DTES (Down Town East Side). The problem is big because of all the houses that are being “renovated” for the 2010 Olympics to attract people to the east side. As an eye-witness of what a huge problem this is kind of getting out of control. The people that are living on the streets right now because of the high cost of living. Yes the buildings that they are putting up that are going to apparently help with the homelessness are only going to cause even more people on the streets because the cost of these new houses are going to rise high. These Olympics are only going to benefit the more “privileged” and not really help the homeless. Should this problem be like thrown under the rug for a 2 week event. Sending them to places where they can find a lower rent to places like Langley, Surrey, Richmond and this becoming no longer E Vancouver’s problem and now ours. We aren’t going to get away from this issue… its going to be here after the Olympics just as it is now before the Olympics.