Women’s Rights and Security in Central Asia

Abstract

In the aftermath of September 1 1 , the United States is once again making allies of countries that violate human rights as it did during the Cold War this time in the name of fighting terror. But in so doing, Washington ignores the crucial tie between human rights and U.S. security interests. As human rights advocates point out, countries that consistently violate human rights are frequently less stable and more of a threat to peace than countries where rights are protected. When citizens cannot express their opinions, when they experience arbitrary treatment at the hands of an unjust legal system, when they lack basic opportunities for political participation, opposition is more likely to erupt in violent fashion. Repression may appear on the surface to be an effective method of maintaining stability, but it is just as likely to promote instability. Since September 1 1 , the five culturally Islamic former Soviet republics of Central Asia Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have emerged as important partners in the struggle against terrorism, despite records of serious human rights abuses. Yet in setting aside concerns about human rights generally, the United States is jeopardizing the support of a key group that could aid its anti terrorism efforts in these countries: