Afghan Women want fair and lasting peace, and lasting peace requires a widespread Participation of Women

Press Release

 
Serial No: 72

Kabul - Afghanistan

Afghan Women want fair and lasting peace, and lasting peace requires a widespread Participation of Women

We Afghan Women welcome any measures to bring peace in Afghanistan. Sustainable peace requires the participation of the Afghan people (both men and women). Afghan women have suffered numerous sacrifices over the past four decades. Continuous struggles and war restrained women and girls progress and, as a result, the country was lagging behind as well half of population abilities were not used for the development of society. The devastation of the civil war and the Taliban era brought Afghan women closer to the darkness and the country in isolation and disgust. During these years, women were deprived of their basic rights, such as access to education, health, political engagement, economic, and social participation. Following the 2001 transformations, women were able to strengthen their political, economic and social presence through their continuous efforts and to advance in various fields. The 36 percent women votes for the government of national unity and the previous governments provided the legitimacy of exercising and institutionalizing democracy to governments. Afghan women continue to play a decisive role in legitimizing the system and bringing about positive changes in the community, such as teachers, doctors, engineers, judges, journalists, civil society activists, business people, politicians, and other businesses. Women in the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are tasked with securing people like men actively and responsibly. Afghan women, with their presence in the community, are not uncomfortable with traditions and practices, and they are active in promoting safe and non-violent communities.

Afghan women, who make up 51 percent of Afghanistan's population, have continued to play an active role in promoting peace. Women with their abilities have been able to recognize the threats in societies and continue to be in contact with the youth and other segments of society at the family and community level, preventing youth and people from deceiving propaganda against their homes and villages. Afghan Women continue to use the Nanwati culture to smooth their tents by preventing widespread bloodshed in districts and villages.

Afghan Women welcome the efforts that are being made to bring lasting peace in Afghanistan. Women who attended the 2010 National Peace Consultative Jirga, strongly called for a clear settlement of peace and reconciliation. Also, by reviewing the peace strategy of that time, Afghan women emphasized on integrating the opposition with their families and providing all the comfort of life to the families of the opposition.

Despite the fact that women have been strong and powerful actors in promoting a culture of peace and bringing peace, they have not been included meaningfully in official/ unofficial and formal and informal national and international events and platforms related to Afghanistan’s peace process.

The use of the symbolic presence of women in the High Peace Council and the lack of involvement of these women in important political and national discussions on peace is unacceptable for women in Afghanistan.

Afghan Women would not want to and do not allow to be the victims of any form of negotiation bargaining, the international community, political parties and opposition factions are engaged in. Afghan women do not give any group the right to engage in any negotiation or conditioning of Afghan women achievements and participation.

The lack of support by the United States and the international community for the meaningful and effective participation of women in the peace process is questionable and can well question the human rights obligations of these states since 2001.

Afghan women emphasize on the following recommendations for meaningful, influential and decision-making role of women in the peace process:

To the government of national unity:

1. Afghan Women call for their active role in all peace related initiatives and talks (pre-negotiation,and negotiation). Women like men have knowledge, solutions and key suggestions in relation to conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peace building. Any formal and informal gathering, even and initiative that do not include Afghan women will not be legitimated by women. We demand the implementation of Afghanistan National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security.

2. Afghan Women support the peace process. The process of peace in Afghanistan needs a serious overhaul. We emphasize the Government of National Unity to include individuals with expertise in peace processes, mediation, facilitation and negotiation, so that this peacekeeping and peacemaking process can be achieved with an acceptable achievement for all Afghans, including women.

3. Afghan women emphasize for a process that is transparent and accountable. The current peace process in Afghanistan needs to be vigorously monitored so that red lines, the protection of victims of violence and wars will be taken seriously and promotion of the culture of impunity is strongly abandoned.

4. The religion of Islam and the constitution of Afghanistan provide equal rights for women and men. No national and foreign groups can represent the views, needs and recommendations of 15 million Afghan women.

To the international community, especially the countries involved in the Afghan peace process:

1. Afghan women are keen on having equal and meaningful participation in all peace talks with opposition groups. We emphasize and call for the strong presence of women in peace talks so that we can share the concerns and solutions of women with opposition groups and are involved in decision-making.

2. Any kind of facilitation and direct communication with the Taliban will be incomplete in absence of Afghan women. We call for serious consideration of the various governments' discussions and decisions about the Afghan peace process by assuring women's participation, the inclusiveness of the process, and transparency and accountability.

3. Achievements and advancements of Afghan women should not be the victim of the deals and decisions of the international community, political parties and factions involved in the war in Afghanistan. We do not accept any preconditions preventing the participation of women in the peace process and the denial of Afghan women's rights.

We Afghan Women welcome any measures to bring peace in Afghanistan. Sustainable peace requires the participation of the Afghan people (both men and women). Afghan women have suffered numerous sacrifices over the past four decades. Continuous struggles and war restrained women and girls progress and, as a result, the country was lagging behind as well half of population abilities were not used for the development of society. The devastation of the civil war and the Taliban era brought Afghan women closer to the darkness and the country in isolation and disgust. During these years, women were deprived of their basic rights, such as access to education, health, political engagement, economic, and social participation. Following the 2001 transformations, women were able to strengthen their political, economic and social presence through their continuous efforts and to advance in various fields. The 36 percent women votes for the government of national unity and the previous governments provided the legitimacy of exercising and institutionalizing democracy to governments. Afghan women continue to play a decisive role in legitimizing the system and bringing about positive changes in the community, such as teachers, doctors, engineers, judges, journalists, civil society activists, business people, politicians, and other businesses. Women in the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are tasked with securing people like men actively and responsibly. Afghan women, with their presence in the community, are not uncomfortable with traditions and practices, and they are active in promoting safe and non-violent communities.

Afghan women, who make up 51 percent of Afghanistan's population, have continued to play an active role in promoting peace. Women with their abilities have been able to recognize the threats in societies and continue to be in contact with the youth and other segments of society at the family and community level, preventing youth and people from deceiving propaganda against their homes and villages. Afghan Women continue to use the Nanwati culture to smooth their tents by preventing widespread bloodshed in districts and villages.

Afghan Women welcome the efforts that are being made to bring lasting peace in Afghanistan. Women who attended the 2010 National Peace Consultative Jirga, strongly called for a clear settlement of peace and reconciliation. Also, by reviewing the peace strategy of that time, Afghan women emphasized on integrating the opposition with their families and providing all the comfort of life to the families of the opposition.

Despite the fact that women have been strong and powerful actors in promoting a culture of peace and bringing peace, they have not been included meaningfully in official/ unofficial and formal and informal national and international events and platforms related to Afghanistan’s peace process.

The use of the symbolic presence of women in the High Peace Council and the lack of involvement of these women in important political and national discussions on peace is unacceptable for women in Afghanistan.

Afghan Women would not want to and do not allow to be the victims of any form of negotiation bargaining, the international community, political parties and opposition factions are engaged in. Afghan women do not give any group the right to engage in any negotiation or conditioning of Afghan women achievements and participation.

The lack of support by the United States and the international community for the meaningful and effective participation of women in the peace process is questionable and can well question the human rights obligations of these states since 2001.

Afghan women emphasize on the following recommendations for meaningful, influential and decision-making role of women in the peace process:

To the government of national unity:

1. Afghan Women call for their active role in all peace related initiatives and talks (pre-negotiation,and negotiation). Women like men have knowledge, solutions and key suggestions in relation to conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peace building. Any formal and informal gathering, even and initiative that do not include Afghan women will not be legitimated by women. We demand the implementation of Afghanistan National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security.

2. Afghan Women support the peace process. The process of peace in Afghanistan needs a serious overhaul. We emphasize the Government of National Unity to include individuals with expertise in peace processes, mediation, facilitation and negotiation, so that this peacekeeping and peacemaking process can be achieved with an acceptable achievement for all Afghans, including women.

3. Afghan women emphasize for a process that is transparent and accountable. The current peace process in Afghanistan needs to be vigorously monitored so that red lines, the protection of victims of violence and wars will be taken seriously and promotion of the culture of impunity is strongly abandoned.

4. The religion of Islam and the constitution of Afghanistan provide equal rights for women and men. No national and foreign groups can represent the views, needs and recommendations of 15 million Afghan women.

To the international community, especially the countries involved in the Afghan peace process:

1. Afghan women are keen on having equal and meaningful participation in all peace talks with opposition groups. We emphasize and call for the strong presence of women in peace talks so that we can share the concerns and solutions of women with opposition groups and are involved in decision-making.

2. Any kind of facilitation and direct communication with the Taliban will be incomplete in absence of Afghan women. We call for serious consideration of the various governments' discussions and decisions about the Afghan peace process by assuring women's participation, the inclusiveness of the process, and transparency and accountability.

3. Achievements and advancements of Afghan women should not be the victim of the deals and decisions of the international community, political parties and factions involved in the war in Afghanistan. We do not accept any preconditions preventing the participation of women in the peace process and the denial of Afghan women's rights.