Ottawa – Members of the first Afghan parliamentary delegation visiting Canada, SAFIA SEDIQI (Nangarhar), FAWZIA KOOFI (Badakhshan), FARIBA AHMADI KAKAR (Kandahar), SAFURA ELKHANI (Bamyan), NASIMA NIAZI (Helmand) and SABRINA SAQIB (Kabul), spent a week in Ottawa meeting with Canadian officials, parliamentarians, NGOs, media and community representatives.

Accompanied by the Afghan Ambassador and Mrs. Samad, the Parliamentarians attended a reception in their honor hosted by Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada, on Monday evening at 24 Sussex, where they expressed their gratitude for Canada’s continued multi-faceted engagement in Afghanistan.

After attending as observers a session of the Question Period at the House of Commons of Canada on Tuesday, the six-member delegation of Afghan women parliamentarians received a standing ovation by all members of the House after being recognized by the Speaker.

The delegation also attended a reception hosted by the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, at the Lester Pearson Building Tuesday evening where members of Parliament, government officials, the diplomatic corps and NGOs were invited to meet them.

On March 5, the delegation attended a national caucus meeting chaired by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, where they were recognized for their accomplishments and courage as elected representatives of their country.

Later on Wednesday, the Hon. Guergis and two Afghan parliamentarians provided an on-the-record overview of Canada's support to women in Afghanistan at a press briefing.

The Afghan parliamentarians also met with leaders of opposition political parties on Wednesday. They stressed to Hon. Stephane Dion (Liberal), Hon. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois) and Hon. Jack Layton (NDP) that Afghanistan and the world face real threats as a result of terrorist activities, and asked that Canada and other donors continue all aspects of the international mission to protect the accomplishments made thus far and help rebuild Afghan institutions.

The Afghan Ambassador hosted a reception in honor of the delegation at the Afghan House Wednesday evening, where representatives of the Afghan-Canadian community and others had an occasion to meet them.

On Thursday, the women Afghan MPs attended an event sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency, where Mrs. Khorshied Samad delivered a keynote address ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. Also, Minister for International Cooperation, Hon. Bev Oda, announced that Canada will contribute $5.5 million towards the Responsive Fund for the Advancement of Women and Afghan teacher training initiatives. The Afghan delegation thanked Canada for its new commitment to Afghan women.

On Friday, the delegation visited the Afghan Embassy before heading to Rideau Hall where they called on The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada and a supporter of Afghan women’s rights. During this private meeting, the Afghan MPs shared their thoughts and aspirations with the Governor General.

The International Development Research Center organized a public presentation on Friday on the occasion of International Women’s Day, where the delegation joined Min. Guergis, Mrs. Samad and Canadian author Sally Armstrong discussing the various facets of women’s condition in Afghanistan. The Afghan MPs highlighting the achievements of the past few years, as well as the challenges facing women in their country.

Embassy of the I.R. of Afghanistan

March 7, 2008