On the sidelines of the 2021 United Nations Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, Afghan women leaders called on the global community: do not normalize relations with the Taliban at the expense of Afghan women’s rights and dreams. Leverage aid and recognition to ensure the protection of women, girls and at-risk minorities.
“Aid, money, recognition - they are all leverage that the world should use for inclusion, for respect to the rights of women, for respect to the rights of everybody,” said
Fawzia Koofi, Former Member of the Afghan Parliament.
“Do not speak about Afghan women at these meetings. Instead, give us a platform to speak for ourselves and for the women stuck in Afghanistan. Create channels for us to speak directly with the Taliban,” added Asila Wardak, co-founder of the Afghan Women's Network (AWN).
“I sit here today, without a home, without a country, and seeing an end to what millions of Afghans sacrificed—their lives, their dreams... If the international community doesn’t set benchmarks with the Taliban, Afghans will continue facing turmoil and insecurity,” emphasized Mariam Safi, Founding Director of the Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies.
Country representatives pledged to stand with Afghan women and girls still in Afghanistan and renewed their commitments to send aid, advocate for women’s full and meaningful participation in Afghan society, and facilitate pathways for Afghan refugees to resettle with dignity.
Opening remarks:
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Kingdom
H.E. Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani
Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations
H.E. Jacqueline O’Neill
Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security
Panel discussion with Afghan leaders:
Fawzia Koofi
Former Member of the Afghan Parliament, Vice President of the National Assembly, and Member of the Negotiation Team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Naheed Farid
Former Member of the Afghan Parliament
Anisa Shaheed
Journalist, Tolo News
Mariam Safi
Founding Director, Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies
Asila Wardak
Human rights and Women's right Activist; co-founder of the Afghan Women's Network ( AWN)
Closing remarks:
H.E. Mette Knudsen
Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Dr. Sima Sami Bahous
Executive Director of UN Women
Hosted by The UK Mission to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, UN Women, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
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