It's in the constitution. Afghanistan's, that is. Too bad it's not in ours in the U.S.
Posted by Robespierre (Member # 5779) on :
In what sense do you think the law treats men and women differently in the US?
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Come on, ak. Are you really proposing that our courts discriminate against women more than Afghan courts do? The Soviet constitution called for fair elections and fair trials too.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Hm. Last I heard, the proposed Afghani constitution would institute Sharia law. Where did this "men and women the same" bit come from, and when did it happen?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
quote:President Hamid Karzai signed Afghanistan's new constitution into law Monday, putting into force a charter meant to reunite his war-shattered nation and help defeat a virulent Taliban insurgency.
. . .
The constitution outlines a tolerant, democratic Islamic state under a strong presidency — as sought by Karzai — a two-chamber parliament and an independent judiciary.
. . .
Ratified Jan. 4 after a sometimes bruising debate at a 500-member loya jirga, or grand council of representatives from across the country, the text also declares men and women equal before the law — a victory for human rights advocates.
[ January 26, 2004, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
That's friggin' awesome.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Yeah, its friggin awesome, but as I stated before, being in the constition doesn't necessarily mean it will actually happen. I hope it does.
The soviet constitution also explicity stated that everyone would have equal pay for their work and there would be no special favoritism.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
At least it's in writing, though. So, it's something they can work towards.
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
Yes, it's in writing. Now all they need to do is teach the women how to read.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Do you think First Book has a chapter in Afghanistan? Maybe in addition to dropping food, the U.S. should start dropping books.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
It least it's in the charter. As someone said, it's something to work towards, even if it is slow progress. I mean, how long did it take for the acceptance of female voters in North America to take hold? But it's a step in the right direction, and an important one. Kudos to the legislators that drafted it.
Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :
quote:In what sense do you think the law treats men and women differently in the US?
Well, for one thing a lot of government-sponsered institutions and organizations give affirmative action benefits to women over men. That's probably the main legal inequality.
I suppose you could also consider child rearing issues, such as who gets possession of a child in divorces, or stuff like that.
[ January 26, 2004, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Tresopax ]
Posted by lcarus (Member # 4395) on :
Yeah. And I can't have an abortion, either.
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Duh, you're a guy.
::rolls eyes::
Posted by Robespierre (Member # 5779) on :
quote: Well, for one thing a lot of government-sponsered institutions and organizations give affirmative action benefits to women over men. That's probably the main legal inequality.
I agree with you. However, the tone of aka's initial post seemed to imply that the US was set up to be legally unfair to women. I think the XIX Amendment pretty much covered the problem of legal inequalities which worked against women.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
*scratches head* Once you've said that all people are equal, is it really necessary to specify men and women?
Posted by Richard Berg (Member # 133) on :
quote:Duh, you're a guy.
::rolls eyes::
It's not such a stretch, really. A man has no way to terminate his obligations (financial & otherwise) after conception, while a woman does.
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
There are plenty of jobs in the military that are prohibited to women.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
There's also the fact that women can't be drafted...
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
<--has absolutely no problem with not being drafted, with no concern whatsoever for what it symbolizes. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Even if women COULD be drafted, they wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole. Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
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