WASHINGTON: Canada is looking to change its role in Afghanistan and it doesn't mean bolstering the military route. Canadian politicians have hinted that they would like to assist in women's empowerment in the Central Asian country as debate in Ottawa continues over the North American country's role in Afghanistan. Although the government appears ready to keep its 1,000 strong troop presence in Afghanistan through 2014 in order to train Afghan security forces, the past few weeks has seen the idea of working toward women's rights in the country increase. The Canadian government has yet to issue its complete strategy in Afghanistan, but this week, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights began hearing expert's opinions on a possible women's rights role in Afghanistan. “We are hopeful that the experts will convince the politicians that this route is a win-win situation because it means putting our citizens out of combat roles while doing something good,” an unnamed Canadian government official said on Tuesday morning. “The government is very serious about this role in women's empowerment, but it will take a shift in public opinion to do it,” the official added. The current round of hearings comes after CARE Canada published a report that calls on the government to push Afghan women's rights to the forefront of policy. It is unclear what the Canadian government will choose and despite the optimism among Canadian women's groups toward the new policy shift, it remains difficult for politicians to go a new route instead of removing Canadians from the Afghan mission altogether, said Tom Johnson, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia. “It is important to look at the options and what the government can do before people rush to criticize or condemn,” he said. “The government will look at all solutions and will hopefully do what is best for the safety of Canadians and the betterment of Afghan society.” BM
