VANCOUVER, CANADA – The exclusion of Afghan women from a key meeting on Afghanistan’s future has drawn sharp criticism from prominent female politicians and human rights groups.
Twelve women, including former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, signed an open letter released Tuesday, June 25, demanding Afghan women’s participation in the upcoming Doha meeting.
The signatories, who gathered in Vancouver for the Global Women Leaders Summit, argue excluding women is “unjust” and undermines their rights and U.N. resolutions on women, peace, and security.
The letter emphasize the exclusion contradicts the UN Charter, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, nine related resolutions, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The female politicians stress the exclusion weakens the international community’s stance on Afghan women’s rights and the credibility of the Doha talks. It acknowledges the need for humanitarian aid but stresses women’s rights are crucial.
“We must not open a pathway for the Taliban to gain broader legitimacy, including for its oppressive treatment of women,” the letter reads. “ Allowing the Taliban to dictate the terms of the Doha dialogue legitimizes their draconian abuses, which amount to gender apartheid.”
In their open letter, the female politicians stressed that this is a defining moment for the international community to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Afghan women and girls by insisting on their presence at the negotiation table.
The third meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan, hosted by the United Nations, is scheduled for this weekend in Doha. A Taliban delegation led by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid is expected to attend.
The U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs has stated the meeting will focus on financial issues, drug control, and climate change. Media reports, citing diplomats, say discussions on women’s rights will be excluded on the first day with the Taliban present.
This exclusion and the Taliban’s invitation have sparked widespread criticism. Women’s rights groups and Afghan civil society have called for a boycott and held protests in several cities worldwide.
U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric responded that women’s rights would be “prominent” throughout the meetings. He emphasized integrating Afghanistan while ensuring adherence to human rights, especially women’s rights.
U.S. Special Envoy for Women, Girls, and Human Rights in Afghanistan Rina Amiri stressed the need for women’s involvement, saying no solutions are possible without them.
“There are no solutions to Afghanistan’s peace, security and sustainability challenges without Afghan women in deliberations concerning Afghanistan’s future,” says Amiri.
