Following the “The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan” meeting, Habiba Sarabi, former Minister for Women’s Affairs; Fawziya Koofi, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Asila Wardak, former Director General for Human Rights and Women’s International Affairs at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Margot Wallström, former Swedish Foreign Minister; Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo; and Meryl Streep, actor addressed reporters.
Speaking to journalists, former Deputy Speaker of the Afghan parliament Fawziya Koofi said, “it's a government of Taliban, by Taliban, for Taliban in Afghanistan. Nobody else is part of that. So, it's not only women who are affected, it's the men who are affected. We are a bit disappointed for the fact that men do not stand to the extent that they should in our support. But it's a very difficult situation. And, you know, there are unrest, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention of people. People are enforced, disappeared. So, we understand the situation. But I think those fathers, those brothers, and those husbands who are coming to us as their representative in the last 20 years, we want to see them now in solidarity, in action. We want them to help us reclaim our country.”
For her part, former Director General of Human Rights and Women’s International Affairs at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asila Wardak said, “this fight is not only Afghan woman's fight. This is this should be a global fight against terrorism, against extremism. Because nowadays, you know, in Afghanistan, the level of extremism that's growing up, it's not only women. It will not remain only for Afghanistan but will soon go to the neighbouring countries and also to the world. So, this is a joint effort in joint responsibility, and it should be a giant fight know.”
The Aghan women, including the former Afghanistan’s Minister for Women's Affairs Habiba Sarabi, were joined by the head of the Political and Peacebuilding Department, Rosemary Di Carlo, former Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallström and Streep.
