VICTORIA, BC: Karen Foss’s visit Nov 18th 2008


The Victoria Chapter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan was pleased to host a dinner for Karen Foss on her visit to Victoria:

From June 2007 to July 2008, Karen Foss worked in Kandahar as a political officer with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.  At the dinner in November, Karen talked about her experience in Kandahar and her optimism for continued progress in Afghanistan.  Her time in Afghanistan followed her 3-years experience in Indonesia, post-tsunami, and her previous experience as desk officer in Ottawa, with responsibility for Afghanistan and Pakistan.  She was initially inspired by a meeting with Afghan women in Ottawa in 2001, women who were human rights activists under the Taliban and who told stories of tragedy, courage and empowerment.   

Canada’s work has changed since the publishing of the Manley Report, a renewed focus more on development and on tracking prisoners transferred from Canadian Forces care to Afghan prisons.  In 2006 there was one Canadian political officer in Kandahar; now there are 13.  The political work deals with building relationships, supporting Afghan efforts to improve their local and national governance capacity and analyzing the political and cultural landscape.  The goal is to help the Afghan government to deliver on the Afghanistan Compact – the objectives that the Afghan government has set for itself for the year 2010; increased security, drug reduction, efficiency of the executive and economic and social development.

Karen was mostly working from a small base in Kandahar City along with colleagues from CIDA involved in development, Canadian police working with the Afghan National Police and Canadian prison guards helping to train prison staff.  One of her tasks was to track the treatment of Canadian detainees who were transferred to the Afghan prison system.  She also met regularly with community and government leaders in Kandahar to facilitate achieving the goals of the Afghanistan Compact.  She worked for a time in the dangerous Panjwayi district, helping communications between residents and the army, in a situation where the Taliban were continuing to harass the residents.  And she also worked at the border crossing of Spin Boldak, helping to make the customs service more professional and working on ways to secure the “porous border”.

Canada’s contribution to Afghan development is focused on a targeted set of objectives and three signature projects: polio eradication, repair of the Dahla Dam (to secure water for Kandahar and for farming plus 10,000 jobs) and reconstruction of 50 schools (see www.afghanistan.gc.ca/ for details).  Karen feels strongly that her role and the role of Canadians in civil society in Afghanistan is supported and welcomed by Afghans hoping to achieve a more prosperous and democratic country.

Speaking of the military mission, Karen said Afghan women active in human rights continue to tell her that the Canadian military should stay until the country is secure enough for children to go to school without fear.  Then leave. 
Karen spoke of her role as a Canadian securing greater harmony for the Afghan people.   Her creativity, problem-solving skills, passion and commitment were evident in her presentation.   It was wonderful to hear this point of view, rather than a military perspective.  Canadians do make a difference.