CASW Asks Federal Government to Call for the Presence of Afghani Women at Bonn II

November 23, 2011

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6   

Dear Mr. Harper:

The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) applauds your government’s continued support for the development and emancipation of Afghani women.  We are confident that Canada will have a strong voice in support of women at the Bonn II Conference.

The Bonn II conference is the 10th anniversary of the conference held there that re-established the Afghan state. As signatories to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, CASW asks that your Government call for the presence of Afghani women at the negotiating table at these meetings.

CASW is aware of the improvements, over the last decade, and that these improvements must not be eroded in the forthcoming peace negotiations with the Taliban and other participants.  CASW believes that any political settlement must explicitly guarantee women’s rights to education, health and personal security.  Further, measures of accountability need to be legislated and enforced.

CASW supports UN Conventions that speak to women’s equality, empowerment, human rights, and protection under the law and to their full participation in civil society and in government.  CASW also promotes the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  The time has come to reclaim children from the violence of war as well as ensuring that women are an integral part of peace negotiations and the follow-up process.

Canada has often demonstrated its strength internationally as a negotiator in the resolution of conflict.  CASW trusts that your government will not allow the huge Canadian investment in Afghanistan to be undermined by a perceived necessity of appeasing the Taliban. 

Yours sincerely,

Morel Caissie, MSW, RSW
President, Canadian Association of Social Workers

cc.

The Honourable John Baird, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Bev Oda, Minister for International Cooperation
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister responsible for the Status of Women
The Honourable Bob Rae Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
Ms Nycole Turmel, Leader, New Democratic Party
Ms Elizabeth May, Leader, The Green Party
Ms Helene Laverdiere, Foreign Affairs Critic, New Democratic Party of Canada
Ms Francoise Boivin, Status of Women Critic, New Democratic Party of Canada
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Critic, the Liberal Party of Canada
The Honourable Judy Sgro, Status of Women Critic, the Liberal Party of Canada