Mrs. Shinkai Karokhail MP

Shinkai Karokhail
Country: 
Afghanistan
Parliament: 
National Assembly of Afghanistan (Wolesi Jirga)
Last Election: 
2010
Upcoming Election: 
2015
Member of the following: 

Committee on Budget and Finance

Member of the Parliamentary Women Caucus

Other current affiliations: 

Founder of Afghan Women's Educational Centre (AWEC)

Member of the Afghans for Transparancy and Accountability (ACTA)

Board member for Afghan Women's Network (AWN)

Board member for Peace Training and Research Organization (PTRO)

Established ANNA Model Centre (working for street children and vulnerable women)

Regions of interest: 
Bio: 

Mrs. Shinkai Karokhail was born in Kabul, in Afghanistan, where she serves today as a Parliamentarian in the National Assembly. She has a diploma in English from the National Institute of Modern Languages of Islamabad, Pakistan. She also studied at the Medical College of the Kabul University between 1979 and 1984 to become a Medical Doctor. She has also completed studies in Political Science. 

Mrs. Karokhail was one of the founding members of the Afghan Women's Educational Center (www.awec.info) in 1991, where she worked as a teacher in the first years and held various positions throughout the development of the NGO, such as program coordinator or communication officer. She was also involved in other social work activities with other NGOs in Afghanistan. Since 2002 she has been the director of AWEC, where she is responsible for program development and management.

In 2005, she was elected as a Parliamentarian in the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, where she works towards conflict prevention and promotes women’s rights.

Mrs. Karokhail was the only member of the parliament to oppose the draft Shia Family Law, which included a large number of articles which opposed women's right. After approaching the international media, the President of Afghanistan was forced to accept amendments to the draft law. Over 50 amendments were introduced to make the Shia Family Law more acceptable. 

Furthermore, the Elemination of Violence Against Women Bill was pushed by Mrs.Karokhail and other women activist. It turn to a bill by ministry of Justice and was approved by the President of Afghanistan. During the signing procedure by the President, Shinkai Karokhail was the only parliamentarian invited by the President along other women leaders (Minister of Women Affair, Head of Human rights Commission and Women Rights Commistioner).

Mrs. Karokhail also founded the gender budget in the National Budget of Afghanistan.

She extensively lobbies for more women in the cabinet. Today have three women in the Afghan cabinet.

Mrs. Karokhail is also a founding member and curent chair of the Parliamentary Women's Network, which brings together women parliamentarians and civil society leaders. 

 

Mrs. Karokhail is also the award recipient of the East West Institutes's first ever H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Values-based Leadership in 2012.