HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss
, and Delegates Hubbard, Fleischauer,
Compton, Spencer, Susman, Poling, Mahan, Brown, Warner, Douglas,
Leach, Webster, Wills, Manuel, Hatfield, Mathews, Keener, J.
Smith, Williams, Shelton, Kuhn, Shaver, Caputo, Prunty,
Stalnaker, Manchin, Wright, Flanigan, Frederick, Campbell,
Perdue, Stephens, Louisos, Evans, Canterbury, Anderson, L. Smith,
Walters, C. White, Boggs, Ashley, Riggs, Carmichael, Schadler,
Overington, Azinger, Ellem, G. White, Fletcher, Trump, Leggett,
Craig, Morgan, McGraw, R. M. Thompson, Fragale, Browning, Amores,
Beane, Butcher, Dempsey, Paxton, H. White, Martin, Staton,
Kominar, Tucker, Michael, Pino, Perry and Doyle)
[Introduced November 28, 2001]
Urging the United Nations to assure full and equal participation of
Afghan women in all aspects of the negotiation and rebuilding
of a constitutional democracy in a post-Taliban Afghanistan in
which women are guaranteed full and equal human and civil
rights and social justice;
Wheresa, The Taliban regime has not recognized international
human rights treaties agreed to by previous governments and the
international community, citing irrelevance to their culture and
Islamic law; and
Whereas, Under Taliban rule, Afghan women have been subjected
to a brutal system of gender apartheid and extreme repression being
banned from schools, prohibited from working, forbidden from
leaving their homes, and being forced to wear head-to-toe burqa
shrouds; and
Whereas, Afghan women have been subjected to harsh punishments
in the form of public beatings in the name of "religion and
culture" upon violation of Taliban decrees; and
Whereas, These decrees have caused a virtual collapse of the
educational system, a complete disregard of human and civil rights,
and have had a disastrous impact on healthcare systems in
Afghanistan; and
Whereas, These decrees represent a striking departure from past
religious and cultural practices in Afghanistan; and
Whereas, The United Nations security council has recognized the
importance of women in ensuring peace and global security worldwide
and strongly supports increasing the role of women in decision-
making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution; and
Whereas, The United Nations is attempting to include women in
all aspects of the humanitarian, reconstruction and redevelopment
efforts in Afghanistan as well as in the re-establishment of a
constitutional democracy in Afghanistan; and
Whereas, After years of being subjugated and brutally repressed
by the Taliban regime, it is time for Afghan women to enjoy full
and equal participation in every level of Afghan society, without discrimination; therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature
urges the United Nations to accelerate and strengthen efforts to
assure that Afghan women have a full and equal role in every aspect
of the reconstruction process and the re-establishment of a
constitutional democracy in Afghanistan in which women are
guaranteed full and equal human and civil rights and social
justice; and be it
Further Resolved, that the Clerk of the West Virginia House of
Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution
to the Secretary General of the United Nations in order that the
countries of the United Nations may be apprized of the sentiments
of the House of Delegates of West Virginia in this matter.