OSCE co-organizes roundtable on gender-responsive National Reconciliation in Afghanistan
A round-table discussion on empowering women in Afghanistan to enable their participation in decision-making and reconciliation with the aim of building sustainable peace, took place on 20 May 2015 in Vienna. It was hosted by the Gender Section in the Office of the Secretary General and the Embassy and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan in Vienna.
The debate focused on how women’s participation in governance institutions is both a means to achieve, and an indicator of improved stability and security. It also highlighted the importance of including empowerment of women and respect for their rights as a fundamental principle in all post-2014 negotiations between relevant stakeholders.
The event was attended by a delegation from Afghanistan, led by Minister of Women’s Affairs Dilbar Nazari and included government officials, members of parliament and representatives of civil society and media.
Special Representative of the Chairmanship-in-Office on Gender Issues, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, said in her opening speech, “Any prospect for peace in Afghanistan will not be achieved without the full participation of women and the protection of their rights.”
“Experiences show that putting an end to conflict and achieving sustainable peace requires negotiations among all stakeholders in a transparent and inclusive process, where both men and women can have their voices and play a role in the relevant decision making and policy making processes,” said Minister of Women’s Affairs, Nazari.
She also noted that she is glad to see that women’s empowerment remains high on the agenda of the OSCE and that in this context support to Afghan women is becoming an important element of its increasing engagement with Afghanistan.