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 (September 2015)
In its consideration of the report on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Council members must call on Afghanistan to ensure that human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, are not compromised in the pursuit of other interests. According to recent UNAMA reporting, in the first half of 2015, government security forces were responsible for nearly 300 additional civilian deaths or injuries compared to the first half of 2014. This amounts to a 60% total rise in civilian casualties and includes a 23% increase in the number of women killed or injured. Additionally, Afghan women human rights defenders (WHRDs) playing a fundamental role in shaping the future of Afghanistan, face increasing insecurity across the country. In their discussion, Council members should call on Afghanistan to:
- Ensure an enabling environment for WHRDs, including by publically recognizing their important work on women’s rights, by taking concrete steps to ensure that all allegations of threats or attacks against WHRDs are fully and impartially investigated and perpetrators are held to account, and that this is monitored effectively by the Ministry of Interior. Ensure all prosecutions of perpetrators of violence against WHRDs use appropriate legislation in fair trials and without recourse to the death penalty;
- Build the capability of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and its provincial counterparts to respond effectively to WHRDs at risk throughout the country, including establishing a mechanism to monitor violence against WHRDs, providing temporary shelter, and assisting with temporary or permanent relocation;
- Minimize to the greatest extent possible any civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces;
- Ensure full implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP) as a critical step in elevating women as full and equal partners in creating a stable future for the country; and
- Ensure women’s involvement in all efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan, including in peace jirgas and any negotiations with the Taliban, to ensure reconciliation does not undermine women’s progress.
In its consideration of the report on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Council members must call on Afghanistan to ensure that human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, are not compromised in the pursuit of other interests. According to recent UNAMA reporting, in the first half of 2015, government security forces were responsible for nearly 300 additional civilian deaths or injuries compared to the first half of 2014. This amounts to a 60% total rise in civilian casualties and includes a 23% increase in the number of women killed or injured. Additionally, Afghan women human rights defenders (WHRDs) playing a fundamental role in shaping the future of Afghanistan, face increasing insecurity across the country. In their discussion, Council members should call on Afghanistan to:
- Ensure an enabling environment for WHRDs, including by publically recognizing their important work on women’s rights, by taking concrete steps to ensure that all allegations of threats or attacks against WHRDs are fully and impartially investigated and perpetrators are held to account, and that this is monitored effectively by the Ministry of Interior. Ensure all prosecutions of perpetrators of violence against WHRDs use appropriate legislation in fair trials and without recourse to the death penalty;
- Build the capability of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and its provincial counterparts to respond effectively to WHRDs at risk throughout the country, including establishing a mechanism to monitor violence against WHRDs, providing temporary shelter, and assisting with temporary or permanent relocation;
- Minimize to the greatest extent possible any civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces;
- Ensure full implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP) as a critical step in elevating women as full and equal partners in creating a stable future for the country; and
- Ensure women’s involvement in all efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan, including in peace jirgas and any negotiations with the Taliban, to ensure reconciliation does not undermine women’s progress.
Relevant Resources
