Human Rights in Afghanistan
write a letter to your Member of Parliament and state your position
on Canada's role in" rel="nofollow">in ensurin" rel="nofollow">ing that human rights are upheld in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan.
The Plight of Afghan Women
Read the Globe and Mail article, "Plight of Afghan women prompts fresh debate" in" rel="nofollow">in the
Step 2:
Consider the followin" rel="nofollow">ing prompts:
• Canadian armed forces are in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan to train" rel="nofollow">in the Afghan military, to fight the
Taliban in" rel="nofollow">insurgency, and to help rebuild the country. As of June 2009, 119 Canadian
military personnel have been killed in" rel="nofollow">in the conflict. Is Canada's military presence in" rel="nofollow">in the
area justifiable when this loss of life is taken in" rel="nofollow">into account?
• Accordin" rel="nofollow">ing to the government website "Canada's Engagement in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan," the
Canadian government will have spent an estimated $11.3 billion dollars on the Afghan
war by the year 2011. Is the cost of the war to Canadian taxpayers justified when
human rights contin" rel="nofollow">inue to be violated in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan?
• Should Canada pull its armed forces out of Afghanistan if the human rights of Afghan
citizens, especially women, contin" rel="nofollow">inue to be violated?
• What more could Canada do to ensure that the rights of women in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan are
upheld?
• What can Canada do to promote democratic prin" rel="nofollow">inciples in" rel="nofollow">in Afghanistan?