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 (June 2013)
The Council is due to receive reports on the UN mission in Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The Council should inquire into information and analysis on the lack of evident progress in the proportion of women participating in political life, and efforts to redress the targeting of women and defenders of their rights, given recent calls for the repeal of the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In its discussions, 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. Human rights, including women’s human rights, must not be traded away or compromised in connection with the transition of security to the Afghan National Security Forces. The Council should support efforts for genuine and meaningful participation of Afghan women and their security concerns in in all peace talks, and all reintegration and reconciliation discussions, including peace jirgas. The Council must call for an immediate end to attacks by the Taleban and armed groups on humanitarian organisations. Such attacks amount to war crimes and perpetrators of such attacks must be brought to justice.
Relevant Resources
