September 2021 WPS Monitor

Over 200,000 people have been killed over the past twenty years in a war that Afghans did not ask for. And although US and NATO troops have withdrawn, the situation remains precarious for millions of people who still face violence due to their political, ethnic, or religious affiliation, a destroyed environment, Taliban rule, and a humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country just in recent weeks, and many more are internally displaced and remain in this new reality. 

Afghan women human rights defenders and peacebuilders have drawn attention to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan for years, particularly in their briefings to the UN Security Council and in their national level advocacy, and since the start of intra-Afghan talks last fall, they have done this at dramatically increased risk to their safety. They have repeatedly urged member states, UN officials, and others with influence to act to protect human rights and sustainable peace before the situation became worse. Their calls have largely been ignored and today is a testament to that.

Strong, united leadership from the international community is more vital than ever for peace. On 30 August, the Security Council passed resolution 2593, which “reaffirms the importance of upholding human rights including those of women, children, and minorities”, and  “encourages all parties to seek an inclusive, negotiated political settlement, with the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women”. The Council and the UN must build on this recognition with concrete, gender-responsive action, and cannot abandon Afghans at this dire moment. 

We have been engaged in extensive rapid response work and advocacy on Afghanistan. Below are a series of recommendations, focused on implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and derived from public and private briefings from Afghan women leaders.

Renewal of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

• Increase UNAMA’s role in monitoring and reporting, especially given the increased human rights violations, sexual violence, and likely war crimes being committed in Afghanistan. 

• Strengthen UNAMA’s coordination role to urgently develop a civilian protection plan, informed by the situation of civilians in the provinces, including in areas long held by the Taliban, and in collaboration with women civil society organizations who have already undertaken protection work. 

• Send a fact finding mission to Afghanistan to investigate violence perpetrated against women and other human rights defenders, journalists, and others at risk. 

• Mainstream Women, Peace and Security resolutions across the mandate. 

Peace Process: Work for an immediate, permanent, and comprehensive cessation of hostilities, followed by an inclusive, negotiated peaceful settlement that prioritises the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security and Protection of Civilians, and human rights obligations. 

Participation and Protection:  

• Any governing power in Afghanistan must protect the human rights of all people including women and girls, people with disabilities, and people from marginalized ethnic and religious groups, and ensure their full, equal, and effective participation in social, economic, and political life, in accordance with Afghanistan’s international obligations. 

• Take every necessary measure to ensure the safe passage out of Afghanistan for all who seek to leave. This includes ensuring that border crossings remain open, expediting visas, delivering support for evacuations, and providing relocation and resettlement support, as well as halting deportations of Afghans.  Offer human rights defenders, journalists, and other individuals at particular risk immediate practical support at all levels, including through protection, diplomatic and political channels.

• Protect those who remain in the country, particularly at-risk persons, by establishing alternative security arrangements and calling for accountability for violence against them by the governing power and other actors.  Push for an immediate end to house searches, which are being conducted by the Taliban. 

Further Reading
WILPF Blog on Members' Evacuation from Kabul (September 2021)
The Afghan people deserve peace and justice (August 2021)
Afghanistan: Joint call for an immediate end to attacks against human rights defenders and need for protection and accountability (May 2021)
Submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women - Afghanistan (2020)