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Shinkai Karokhail

Shinkai Zahine Karokhail[1] (Pashto: شينکۍ ذهين کړوخېل[2]) is an Afghan politician and rights activist,[3] focusing mainly on the political representation of women[4] and the protection of vulnerable children. She was the Afghan ambassador to Canada.[5]

Shinkai Karokhail
Shinkai Karokhail

Early life

Mrs Karokhail was born to Pashtun parents in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she attended the Medical College of the Kabul University and graduated with a medical degree.[6] Similarly, apart from medicine studying political science, she holds a diploma in English from the National Institute of Modern Languages of Islamabad, Pakistan. She speaks, Persian, Pashto, Urdu and English.[citation needed]

Political career

Mrs Karokhail was elected Wolesi Jirga as an MP in 2005 [7] to represent the people of Kabul in the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.[8] She was re-elected in the 2010 parliamentary elections. Currently, she is the member of the Parliamentary Women Caucus committee and serves on the Budget and Finance Committee.[citation needed]

Mrs Karokhail has a vocal advocate of women's rights, alongside working tirelessly on conflict prevention programmes.[9]

In 1991, she among others members founded the Afghan Women's Educational Center,[10] initially taking its teaching responsibilities followed by various other posts during the later years. In 2002, she became the director of the NGO heading its developmental and management programmes.

Mrs. Karokhail played a pivotal role in opposing the controversial draft Shia Family Law, which was seen to be oppressing Shiite women and depriving them of many of their rights in a marital relationship.[11] After making international headlines, a number of amendments [12] were made to the draft law in order to make it more acceptable.

Moreover, she was also one of the few voices behind the Elimination of Violence Against Women Bill[13] which was approved[14] by the President of Afghanistan in 2009. She was the only parliamentarian alongside other female leaders from various departments to be invited to witness the signing of the bill by President Hamid Karzai.

Interests

Mrs. Karokhail focuses on development, economic Security, good governance, Justice and transparency, Human rights, regional cooperation & security, women, peace and security issues as well as lobbying for more women in the inner circle of power.[15]

Awards

In 2012, Mrs. Karokhail received[16] the East West Institute's[17] first ever H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award [18] for Values-based Leadership.

References

  1. ^ "INSEAD celebrates women 2012 - Speakers – Abu Dhabi - Shinkai Karokhail". www.insead.edu. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. ^ "کابل کې محکمې د فرخندې د قضیې په تړاو لومړۍ ناسته وکړه - BBC Pashto". BBC Pashto (in Pashto (Afghanistan)). 2 May 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Shinkai Karokhail MP | Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention". pncp.net. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Revisited - Afghanistan: In Kabul with MP and feminist Shinkai Karokhail". France 24. October 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  5. ^ Glavin, Terry (3 August 2017). "Why Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada was called home". Maclean’s. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Afghan womens' [sic] rights campaigner Shinkai Karokhail". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Why We Need to Empower Women's Political Leadership Globally". The Huffington Post. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Parliament Of Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Warlords still rule Afghanistan « RAWA News". www.rawa.org. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ^ "AWEC". www.awec.info. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Afghanistan: Law Curbing Women's Rights Takes Effect". Human Rights Watch. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Afghanistan to change controversial 'rape' law - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Afghanistan: Reject New Law Protecting Abusers of Women". Human Rights Watch. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  14. ^ Section, United Nations News Service (8 December 2013). "UN News - UN reports 'slow, uneven' use of Afghan law protecting women". UN News Service Section. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  15. ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel (6 May 2015). "Farkhunda murder: Afghan judge sentences four to death over mob killing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Queens Group Advocates for Women's Rights in Afghanistan | The Forum Newsgroup". theforumnewsgroup.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  17. ^ "EastWest Institute | Building Trust. Delivering Solutions". www.eastwest.ngo. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  18. ^ Award, H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. "H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award". arabyouthawards.net. Retrieved 30 January 2016.