Presented to Afghanistan President Mr. Hamid Karzai at a Community Event for the Afghan- American Community in New York at Queens College on November 13th, 2002.
 
Dear President Karzai,
 
On behalf of Women for Afghan Women and all your Afghan sisters in New York, I thank you for coming to my alma mater, Queens College, to speak to the Afghan American community. 
 
I am the Director of Women for Afghan Women, a New York-based women’s organization which advocates for the human rights of Afghan women and engages in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. Women for Afghan Women has been working tirelessly since its formation in April 2001, six months before 9/11.  We have organized two conferences showcasing Afghan women integrally involved in the process of reconstruction, and have also published an important book which I am proud to present to you today.
 
Understanding that our country is almost entirely Muslim, Women for Afghan Women believes that Islam should be used as a framework to secure human rights rather than take them away.  While we wish to preserve our great cultural heritage, we look to you as our leader, to never allow or excuse anyone, including those in your government, who use religion and/or culture to legitimize the oppression of women.
 
It is widely recognized that the constitution of 1964 was ahead of its time in the rights it accorded both men and women.  This is a new moment in Afghan history, a moment of immense hope for Afghans all over the world.  We must build upon that constitution and craft a new constitution that is yet again ahead of its time and a model for the Muslim world.
 
It is encouraging that two women sit on the newly announced Constitutional Commission.  It is imperative that women’s rights be fully incorporated into all aspects of the new civil and political system.  We plead with you to ensure that Afghan women are encouraged to come out to vote, and that all efforts are made to ensure their safety during the elections.
 
We urge you to:
 
* Ensure and mandate comprehensive education for girls and boys;
* Address the health crisis in Afghanistan by prioritizing women’s healthcare – as you know, Afghan
   women are dying in childbirth in record numbers;
* Make all forms of violence against women a crime, be it in the street or in our homes;
* Demonstrate to the world, as marked by our glorious history and culture,  that Afghanistan is a
   country that will not only tolerate but protect religious freedom;
* Earmark a substantial portion of aid received for the issues and concerns of over half of
   Afghanistan’s people – its women; and
* Join the growing list of nations that have ratified CEDAW.
 
It is not the job of the women’s ministry alone – it is the job of every ministry in your government, every institution, indeed every individual in Afghanistan, to secure and protect the rights, security and wellbeing of women and girls.  We speak to you as our brother and offer ourselves as the largest untapped resource in Afghanistan.  We pledge to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the rebuilding of our great nation.
 
           
In peace and sisterhood,
 
Masuda Sultan, Director
Women for Afghan Women