Afghanistan: Include women in transition processes

WLUML believes that international efforts for the reconstruction of Afghanistan must promote a process guided by the Afghan people. Afghan women are half of the Afghan people - a fact too often and too easily forgotten. It is not enough to call merely for the representation of various ethnic communities and/or factions in the decision making and transition processes around Afghanistan. The presence of Afghan civil society, most particularly women, at the negotiation table and decision making of any peace process is vital.

We call upon the UN, that is better-positioned than any other entity, to support and facilitate Afghan women's involvement in the decision-making and transition processes in the coming months. We appreciate that the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan, Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, has been specifically interacting with Afghan women's groups to discuss ways of including women in the transition processes led by the UN.