The ‘Women’s United Voice Advisory Group on Peace Policy Making’ Dialogue on the Recent Peace Developments

The Women’s United Voice Advisory Group on Peace Policy Making dialogue was held with the participation of Dr. Alema, Acting Minister of the State Ministry for Peace and Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Civil Society of the Ministry, Ms. Hasina Safi, Acting Minister for Women’s Affairs, Ms. Zuhra Mutahar Ahmadzai, Deputy of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), Members of Parliament, Mr. Ghulam Yahya Abbasy, Deputy Minister for Support and Administrative Affairs of the State Ministry for Peace, an Advisor to the First Lady, members of the Women’s United Voice Advisory Group on Peace Policy Making from 34 provinces, and diplomats of several countries.
Welcoming the participants at the beginning of the meeting, Ms. Khujasta Shola, Director of Women’s Affairs Coordination of the State Ministry for Peace, said that the meeting demonstrates women’s commitment to participate in the peace process.
Dr. Alema, Acting Minister of the State Ministry for Peace and Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Civil Society of the Ministry, shed light on the recent developments, saying that there are different views on the peace process; but the process is not a one-way street, it is a time-consuming process.
Referring to the Afghan people’s demands, she said that the people expect that an implementable agreement should be signed and a regional and international consensus on that should be reached as a result of the peace negotiations.
Speaking about the Moscow Conference, she said that the republican delegation had a united position in the conference, as they stressed that the return of the Taliban’s emirate is not acceptable.
Referring to the upcoming meeting in Turkey, Dr. Alema said that today’s Afghanistan is in a different position from the time of the Bonn Conference; because the existing structures did not exist at that time, and therefore, the change of regime needs to be law-based and based on elections.
She also stressed that protecting women’s rights and making their voices heard in the process is a priority for Afghan women. This voice of justice must always be loud, and their demands must be conveyed to the international community, the government and the negotiation table.
Among the issues she emphasized were the declaration of a ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces based on conditions, reaching a political consensus, continuation and acceleration of the Doha peace negotiations, regional and international consensus, a strong presence of women in the peace process and greater attention to human rights issues.
Hasina Safi, Acting Minister for Women’s Affairs, said that women’s voice is influential in the peace process, and because of the women’s voice, currently the peace process moves forward effectively.
She stressed that this voice must be maintained and that women’s plans and suggestions on the peace process must be shared.
Referring to the activities of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs for women’s participation in the peace process, she said that the ministry had worked for women’s involvement in the peace process by preparing a policy document on the inclusion and participation of women in the peace process, a national campaign to defend the republic and its improvement on March 8 by collecting women’s views on a draft peace agreement from across the country.
Palwasha Amin, an adviser to the First Lady, also stressed the need to preserve the Constitution and the republican system, as well as the meaningful presence of women in the peace process.
Zuhra Mutahar Ahmadzai, Deputy of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), said in her speech that at the current historical juncture, women should raise their voices; Silence will be the greatest victimization of future generations.
She stressed that all women from all over Afghanistan should be involved in the peace process, and their voices should be shared with peace structures.
Dr. Alema asked the participants to share their views on the draft peace agreement and other related issues.
Participants then were divided into groups based on zones and discussed their views on the above issues. These comments and views were then shared with all the meeting participants.
The women participants said that decision-making in peace plans should not be undemocratic. They said that the transfer of power without elections and the disappearance of the Constitution and the creation of a new Constitution, the lack of guarantees for women’s rights and related structures, and disregard for the rights of minorities are not acceptable to the people of a democratic country.
Preservation of the Constitution, the republican system, the principle of elections and the presence of at least 30% of women in the structures were among the issues raised by the participants.
They also stressed that no plan is acceptable if it does not include the status of women and minorities.
Women’s participation in the elections, the announcement of a ceasefire, the protection of women’s rights and their achievements, the preservation of the Constitution and the system, and the role of women in the system, respect for gender and meritocracy, and women’s inclusion in the Taliban negotiation team were among the topics discussed by the participants.
Concluding the meeting, Dr. Alema, Acting Minister of the State Ministry for Peace, thanked the participants and said that women’s concerns and suggestions would be shared with the relevant authorities.
Referring to the draft peace agreement, she said that the spirit of peace plans should be democratic and take into account women’s rights and all segments of the society. She added that in the presence of the Council of Ulema and the three branches of government, the establishment of the Council of Islamic Jurisprudence would interfere with other jurisprudential and judicial structures.
Emphasizing the announcement of a ceasefire, she said that women should play a key role in monitoring the ceasefire and that peace would not be possible without women’s meaningful participation in the process.
Dr. Alema said that the international community, particularly the United Nations, should have a clear position on women’s contribution and their rights.
Mr. Arnout Pauwels, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Afghanistan, said that the European Union is working to bring Afghan women’s voice to the international community.
He stressed that the international community is concerned about the absence of women in the peace process and that the presence of only one woman at the Moscow Conference was shocking.
Welcoming the forthcoming conference in Istanbul, Mr. Pauwels said the EU would be present at this conference.
He stressed that the presence of women and their values should be taken into account in peace plans.
Mr. Thomas Guibert, French Charge d’affaires in Kabul, also assured that the voice of women raised at the meeting would be shared with the international community.
He stressed that the people of Afghanistan must lead and manage the peace process and that unbalanced plans are not the way forward.
Mr. Guibert emphasized that the French government is committed to ensuring that Afghan women enjoy full rights and that all segments of the society should be involved in the peace process.
He called the meeting a constructive step to receive women’s views and opinions.
Martin Zichendraht, First Secretary of the German Embassy in Kabul, called the demands and views of women and their meaningful presence in the process a part of the way to peace and said that the Doha peace negotiations are of great importance for the peace process.
He stressed that the values and achievements of recent years must be protected.
He further stressed the participation of people from all over the country and said that the sustainability of peace is achieved with the presence and inclusion of all the people.
Worth mentioning that the ‘Women’s United Voice Advisory Group on Peace Policy Making’ was established last year by women’s rights activists with the participation of women from all over Afghanistan, and the State Ministry for Peace is facilitating the group’s activities.