Not Charity But Seat at All Negotiating Tables: Afghan Women Activists after Remarks by the US Special Envoy Activists Say Remarks by the US Special Envoy Rina Amiri Reflect the US Government’s Non-Commitment to End Gender Apartheid* in Afghanistan
Friday, August 2, 2024: On July 30, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the United
States House of Representatives held a hearing on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan featuring Rina Amiri, the US Special Envoy (SE) for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights. In SE’s remarks, it became clear that the United States has prioritized its own security interests and engagement with the Taliban over protecting and promoting women’s rights and the inclusion of Afghan women. We urge the United States Government (USG) to take the ‘All tools’ approach and prioritize support for women and girls in all aspects of its Afghanistan policy. The USG must take a principled stance on the Gender Apartheid in all peace and security processes related to Afghanistan.
During the hearing, the SE noted that the US met with the Taliban in Doha. This is an indication that the USG agreed to the Taliban’s demands to exclude Afghan women at the third meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan in Doha. On being questioned, SE Amiri justified these exclusionary conversations by informing the US met with Afghan women and civil society on the sidelines of the meeting in Doha. The USG's acceptance of the Taliban’s pre-conditions about women’s exclusion is deeply concerning. It thwarts any effort by Afghan women to demand their rightful place in peacebuilding processes. The SE’s consultation with the Women’s Rights Organization after the Doha meeting does not erase the fact that they were excluded from the conversation. Nor does it replace their right to direct representation and participation.
It is clear the US has not identified its principled position in Afghanistan. Measures need to be put in place to combat the misuse of humanitarian aid by the Taliban, a group unrecognized by the USG. The SE Amiri remarks show that the USG is not committed to ending the Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan through high-level discussions in Doha or through humanitarian aid and access. SE Amir's strategy does not demonstrate how the USG supports non-violent, civic resistance against the Taliban and strengthens civic space. SE Amiri’s comments show a complete disconnect of the USG on grave dangers faced by women and girls, who continue to lead non-violent civic resistance irrespective of any external support.
Zakira Rasooli, Founder and Executive Director, of Women Leading Peace (WLP), said,
“Afghan women and girls must be at the centre of all peace and political processes in the
region. The rights of Afghan women, girls and systematically marginalised groups must
be prioritised over the narrow security interests of the negotiating stakeholders. The
meaningful participation, inclusion, and representation of women and girls in these
processes are the only ways to achieve sustainable peace in Afghanistan.”
WLP’s Campaigner, Akshay Tarfe said, “The women of Afghanistan are not asking for
charity but their rightful place at the negotiating table. Contrary to the claims by the SE,
delivering humanitarian aid alone is not enough to build the political and economic
agency of Afghan women and girls. The USG needs to form a more organized and
principled position on gender apartheid in Afghanistan to demonstrate its commitment to
gender justice in the region.”
For sustainable peace-building process and the Gender Justice for Afghan women and girls:
Take an “all tools” approach as recommended by the UN to end gender apartheid in
Afghanistan and promote the rights of women, girls, and other systematically
marginalized communities;
Adopt a sense of security that prioritizes the rights and civic participation of women, girls, and systematically marginalized communities over one that focuses on narrow security interest;
Adopt a conflict-sensitive approach to aid in ensuring it is effectively delivered to all and not diverted.
Unconditionally support the UN-led process to incorporate Gender Apartheid in the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
Call for an ICC investigation into crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on gender-based crimes.
Strengthen and fund Afghan women-led organizations both abroad and in-country
Provide written commitment for meaningful participation of Afghan women’s rights
organizations in the next round of Doha meetings in line with the Convention on the
Note to the Editor
The spokesperson is available for commentary, interview and additional discussion.
*Gender Apartheid - Gender apartheid is the systematic segregation of the sexes imposed
through law and policy as a governing ideology. In this construct, segregation may be
accompanied by the total exclusion of women as in Taliban Afghanistan, the paradigmatic
example of gender apartheid.
About Women Leading Peace
Women Leading Peace is a group of women peacebuilders, both inside and outside
Afghanistan, who strive to inspire and equip other women peacebuilders to collectively lead
change, take control of our narratives, and represent ourselves, our needs, and our demands. We work toward structural problems that hold women back from meaningful participation and decision-making and making positive change. We advocate for inclusion in peace-building and political processes both on local and top-down levels.
For more information, please visit: womenleadingpeace.com or write Zakira Rasooli at womenleadingpeace@gmail.com
Comments