Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan has been engulfed in violent armed conflict since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, and efforts to build sustainable peace while preventing the re-establishment of extremist rule depend on the inclusion of women.
Living in the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman, as the Thomas Reuters Foundation revealed in 2011, Afghani women have emerged as leaders in the peace process— advocating constantly for more inclusive government, and inspiring marginalized groups nationwide to demand a place in the political system. Despite the important role that Afghani women play in bringing about social change in Afghanistan, many barriers to their involvement still exist.
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for eliminating these barriers by encouraging UNAMA to support the Afghan government in fully implementing the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP), and ensuring women’s full and equal participation in regularly held elections.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Afghanistan (December 2013)
The Security Council’s discussion of the forthcoming report on the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) should inquire into information, analysis, and recommendations on the lack of progress in women’s participation in political life, and address the continuing threats to women’s security. The Council should call for increased efforts to end the targeting of women and women’s rights defenders, including ensuring their protection, and ensure support for a strengthened and independent Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. The Council should ensure that the UN presence maintains a robust human rights monitoring and reporting role. The Council should support efforts for meaningful participation of Afghan women and their security concerns in all peace talks, all reintegration and reconciliation discussions, and in all preparations for the 2014 elections. The Council should continue to stress that women’s human rights must not be compromised in connection with the transition of security to the Afghan National Security Forces or in peace talks with the Taleban or insurgent groups. The Council should be clear that members of the Afghan government and insurgent groups must not be granted impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and it must call for an immediate end to attacks by the Taleban and armed groups on women and girls, as well as on humanitarian organizations. The Council should strongly urge the government to reject the recently proposed amendments to the country’s Penal Code, by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice and the Ministerial Committee of Shari’a and Traditional Penalty and Investigating Crimes, which include reinstatement of punishments dating to the Taliban area. Among them are public stoning to death for “adultery” by married people, and flogging of up to 100 lashes for unmarried people found guilty of “adultery”. These amendments are contrary to the country’s international human rights obligations, and the Council should call on Afghanistan to uphold its commitment to improving and monitoring human rights.
Relevant Resources
