Foreword

In accordance with the motion passed by the House of Commons on March 13, 2008, we are honoured to place before Parliament this quarterly report on Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan. This report addresses the quarter ending March 31, 2009.

Our report for this quarter highlights one of the central elements of Canada’s mission—advancing Afghanistan’s rule of law. By helping Afghans to strengthen their rule of law, we are contributing to Afghanistan’s security, governance and development. As the Prime Minister noted during his visit to Kandahar province in May, “Canada’s Afghan mission is more than just a security operation. It is also about making a real difference in the quality of life for thousands of Afghan families.”

The urgency of rule-of-law reform was underlined during the quarter by the sudden passage of an Afghan law jeopardizing internationally recognized rights of women. This law caused concern among Canadians and others in the international community, and met strenuous criticism among many Afghan organizations and legislators. Canada, with other partners active in Afghanistan, has pressed the Afghan government to honour its international treaty obligations, including obligations to respect the equality of women before the law. As the Prime Minister has said, “We cannot state strongly enough our concern for the rights of women in Afghanistan.”

While the Afghan Constitution recognizes the right of the Shia minority (about three million Afghans or 10 percent of the population) to have family law cases adjudicated according to Shia jurisprudence, this particular legislation, which is not yet in force, contains a number of troubling provisions including marriage between minors; the requirement that a wife have her husband’s permission to work, seek education, receive health care or even leave the home; and the effective legalization of rape within marriage.

In response to international and domestic pressures, the Afghan government halted implementation of the Shia statute and undertook to review its provisions. Canada remains strongly engaged with the Afghan government on this issue, alongside Afghans and their elected legislators.

During the quarter we welcomed the announcement by the United States of a new U.S. strategy of engagement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region, and we are working closely with the United States to coordinate our civilian and military activities for the best possible results. As part of its strategy, the United States is deploying large numbers of additional forces to counter the insurgency in Afghanistan and accelerate training of Afghan security forces. Many of these reinforcements will be based in Kandahar, where most Canadian Forces’ soldiers are located.

The intention is that a larger U.S. military presence will eventually provide more security for Afghans. It is also likely, however, that the arrival of more U.S. forces in Kandahar—with greater capacity to clear and hold territory against the insurgency—will involve more intense and frequent fighting with insurgents in the coming months. Other important developments in the period ahead include preparations for Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections in August.

On behalf of all Canadians, we are privileged again to express our respect and gratitude for those Canadians, military and civilian, who are carrying out our engagement in Afghanistan. They have displayed courage, purpose and extraordinary professional skill.

Our next report will cover the quarter that ends June 30, 2009.

The Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Honourable Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety