UN Calls For "Equal Say" of Women in Afghan Peace Talks

Kabul, March 8, 2020:

The United Nations (UN) in Afghanistan has brought honour to the country's women on International Women's Day after it called for an inclusive peace talks with women having an equal say.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Sunday a statement that with anticipation building that the door for intra—Afghan peace talks will open, women’s advocacy groups and activists across Afghanistan have focused on developing strategies to protect and advance the gains they have made in social, political, civic and economic life.

The UN Mission opined that women must be included in any formal peace negotiations. It further added that there should be full and meaningful participation in political decision—making by all the members of society.

"I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights," was the theme of the UN Mission in Afghanistan to mark Women's Day. The aim was to leverage individual and collective efforts to make gender equality and women’s rights a living reality.

“To create a peaceful and inclusive society, it is essential that Afghan women have access to education, healthcare and decent work, and that they are fully represented in all areas of political decision—making, from parliament to the peace table,” Tadamichi Yamamoto, special UN envoy and head of UN mission, was quoted in the statement as saying.

He added, "While we have seen significant progress on women’s rights in Afghanistan, including formal legislation and national action plans, we continue to see powerful social and political pushback."

Yamamoto observed that the situation in Afghanistan must change for Afghan women and "for the benefit of Afghanistan as a nation."

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