Consultative meeting with the United Voice of Afghan Women for Peace Policy Making Advisory Group

Following the consultative meetings of the State Ministry for Peace with different strata, Abdul Salam Rahimy, Special Representative of the President and the State Minister for Peace, spoke with members of the United Voice of Afghan Women for Peace Policy Making Advisory Group in person and online from the center and the provinces.

At the beginning of the meeting, Habiba Sarabi, a member of the negotiating team, spoke about the progress made in the peace process.

Members of the United Voice of Afghan Women for Peace Policy Making Advisory Group then shared their views, suggestions and demands related to the peace process with the leadership of the State Ministry for Peace and other participants.

Referring to the importance and necessity of the presence of this group in the peace process, the group members said that women should have an active, real and meaningful presence in the peace and negotiation process, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

The women, who were present in the meeting, also stressed the need to establish a clear plan and mechanism for coordination and consultation with the negotiating team, and said that by creating a single mechanism, the ground for inclusive participation of women and civil society organizations related to women in the peace talks would be provided.

They said, a clear strategy could ensure the inclusion of all sections of society in the peace process.

Monitoring the peace process by women's civil society organizations, ensuring international guarantees during negotiations to protect women's rights and their many years of achievement, and defending the rights of war victims are other issues that group members have called for.

Abdul Salam Rahimy, Special Representative of the President and the State Minister for Peace, after hearing the views, suggestions and concerns of the members of the United Voice of Afghan Women for Peace Policy Making Advisory Group, answered questions and concerns of the members of the meeting. He expressed his gratitude for the interest and active presence of women in the peace process.

The State Minister for Peace said that the peace process has become so much close to the negotiations phase and that the government does not want to miss this opportunity.

Addressing the women present at the meeting, he said that each of you is an ambassador of peace and can raise the voice and message of peace. He reaffirmed his commitment to protecting women's rights during the talks, saying that there is no one in the leadership of the government and the peace process who can deal with women's rights.

Stating that the government is committed to the peace process, he said that the existing structures for peace work in harmony and in cooperation to create peace.

It is worth mentioning that last week a consultative meeting was held with fifty committee heads of the Consultative Peace Loya Jirga in the meeting hall of the State Ministry for Peace with the present of the State Minister for Peace and Deputy Minister for Coordination of tribes.