After being threatened by takeover from the Afghan government, women’s shelters in Afghanistan will remain independent for the time being. The February proposal sparked an outcry from women’s organizations and shelter operators throughout the country.

“The bill that was laid out was punitive, it was nasty,” says Esther Hyneman, a board member of Women for Afghan Women, a NGO which operates four shelters in the country. 

Proposed obstacles for shelter admission 

If the bill had gone ahead, Hyneman says, women fleeing their homes would have faced daunting obstacles before being admitted into shelters. 

“Imagine an illiterate woman from a small village facing a panel of eight officials to defend her need to be in a shelter. She would have had to have a forensic medical exam to get in. If a family member came [for her], she would have to be released immediately.”

Hyneman says that the Afghan Ministry for Women’s Affairs does not have the experience, staff or money to operate the shelters properly. She says the groups that are supporting Women for Afghan Women’s work would not fund government-run shelters.

Thankfully, Hyneman says, a government takeover is not likely in the near future.  “Our executive director just talked to the Minister for Women’s Affairs. They had a brief but amicable discussion, and we are optimistic that future relations will be productive for the Ministry, for WAW, and especially for the women of Afghanistan."  

Endemic violence against women

Afghanistan has a poor record when it comes to violence against women and girls. Many young girls are forced into marriages. Women are beaten and mutilated for what their male family members consider violations to family pride.  

Shelters for abused women and girls began to spring up about five years ago. There are now approximately 15 shelters in the country. Although conditions improved for women following the allied invasion in 2001, many organizations working in the country fear that the situation will worsen as foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

Government control off the table

“The shelters bill is off the table,” Hyneman says, “But anything can go back on the table at any time in Afghanistan.”

Hyneman says the international attention drummed up over the proposed bill might pave the way to a more cooperative relationship between womens’ organizations and the Afghan government. That, she hopes, will avert similar proposals in the future.