Afghanistan
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for June 2010
NGO Working Group Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for June 2010, the NGOWG had recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan:
There are several key events regarding Afghanistan scheduled for June.
- The planned Peace Jirga has been once again postponed, and is now scheduled for early June. Concerns regarding representation persist: the Peace Jirga must reflect Afghan society, particularly the representation of women and minority groups, and the inclusion of their rights and concerns on the agenda.
- The Afghanistan UNAMA country report is due in the Security Council this month. Previous reports have not adequately reflected the serious barriers women face when attempting to assert their rights to participate in all aspects of economic and political life in Afghanistan, nor have these reports included sufficient recommendations for removing
these barriers. In particular, Council Members should inquire into any lack of information and analysis on violations of women’s rights.
- The Security Council is scheduling a mission to Afghanistan in late June. As per the Security Council’s stated intention in SCR 1325 OP15, this mission should include meeting with women’s rights organizations. Specifically, both local and international women’s rights defenders should be substantively consulted during the mission, and their concerns are reflected in the mission report and in future Security Council action in Afghanistan.
Download the June MAP [PDF]
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for May 2010
NGO Working Group Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for May 2010, the NGOWG had recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan:
Concerns regarding representation at the planned Peace Jirga must be addressed: it must reflect Afghan society, particularly the representation of women and minority groups, and the inclusion of their rights and concerns on the agenda.
Download the May MAP [PDF]
Act Now to Protect Women
26 April 2010
Human Rights Watch
A call to Reject Delay in Steps to End Rape in War and Include Women in Peace Talks in Afghanistan.
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for April 2010
NGO Working Group Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for April 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan:
Despite international pressure, Afghan women continue to be excluded from decision-making positions, including from the
briefing given to the Council in March (as requested in the March MAP). There has been no repeal of the National
Reconciliation, General Amnesty and National Stability bill, increasing the culture of impunity in the country. With the
renewal of the UNAMA mandate (SCR 1917), the Council should ensure that its expressed support for the Peace Jirga
includes support for women’s meaningful participation in this process, and that any agreements signed fully include
women’s human rights, a key part of the UNAMA mandate (SCR 1917, OP 6d).
Download the MAP for April [PDF]
Afghanistan: Women human rights defenders continue to struggle for women’s rights
7 March 2008
Amnesty International
Public Statement expressing support for the human rights of women in Afghanistan in general, and in particular for women human rights defenders in
Afghanistan.
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for March 2010
NGO Working Group Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for March 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan:
The forthcoming UNAMA report and mandate renewal come at a time of particular importance for Afghan women. The Council previously mandated UNAMA to coordinate efforts to ensure the full enjoyment by women of their human rights (SCR 1868, OP4g; OP8); stressed implementation of its resolutions on women, peace and security; and requested information on the integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan (OP29). Despite this, Afghan women report widespread, ongoing violations of their rights and have voiced serious alarm about any peace talks with the Taliban, fearing their rights will be traded away or further compromised. In addition to ensuring it receives a comprehensive report on the women, peace and security situation in Afghanistan, the Council should:
- Consider hearing directly from a woman human rights defender at the open debate on the situation in Afghanistan;
- Demand that women are meaningfully represented in peace processes and their security ensured, as recommended by Afghan women leaders on the margins of the London Conference on Afghanistan in January;
- Demand the repeal of the National Reconciliation, General Amnesty and National Stability bill (published in the official gazette December 2009), which provides a blanket amnesty for those involved in past and present hostilities in Afghanistan.
Download the March MAP [PDF]
Afghan Women and Girls: Building the Future of Afghanistan
24 February 2010
Human Rights Watch
Testimony of Rachel Reid to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the role of women and girls in the peace building process.
Link to Afghan Women and Girls: Building the Future of Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Human Rights must be guaranteed during Taliban talks
26 January 2010
Amnesty International
A press release stating that human rights, including women’s rights, must not be traded away or compromised during any reconciliation talks with the Taleban in Afghanistan, Amnesty International said on the eve of a London conference set to discuss deteriorating security conditions in the country.
Afghanistan: 2010 World Report
January 2010
Human Rights Watch
This chapter on Afghanistan in Human Rights Watch’s 2010 World Report outlines key events and issues from 2009.
Link to the World Report Chapter
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for December 2009
NGO Working Group Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for December 2009, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan:
The resolutions authorizing mandates of the UN mission and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan explicitly refer to the resolutions on Women Peace and Security. However, relevant reporting has been uneven. Firstly, the quarterly report on ISAF operations is overdue. Secondly, although the last UN Secretary-General report (S/2009/475) condemned the severe legislative restrictions on women’s rights, the benchmarks in this report did not address the root causes of these restrictions including the need for women’s empowerment, nor women’s specific security concerns.
- The next UN Secretary-General report on Afghanistan is due mid-December, and presents an opportunity to review good practices regarding reporting on women peace and security in country situations.
Download the December MAP [PDF]
Member Organizations
© 2010 NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security