Afghan Civil Society (CSOs) Urges International Women and Civil Society Organizations for Sustainable and Collective Cooperation

Afghan Civil Society (CSOs) Urges International Women and Civil Society Organizations for Sustainable and Collective Cooperation

On the eve of the Afghan Top in Bonn, Afghan women activists and civil society representatives urge International CSOs for sustainable and collective cooperation. "After 10 years of International engagement in Afghanistan, there is a need between International and Afghan women’s organizations and other civil society networks to collectivize their efforts, expertise and work that is sustainable and reaches to various layers of society throughout the country" emphasized various delegates of civil society attending a conference on "Women's Rights and Peace for Afghanistan" at Bonn University, yesterday evening.

The International Conference of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan, taking place today in Bonn, will focus on securing a political process during the transition period of Afghanistan aiming to ensure lasting peace. Many international and Afghan women, and civil society organizations have also gathered in Bonn advocating for civil and human rights issues. In this regard one of the major side-events was organized at Bonn University on the issue of Women’s Rights and Peace for Afghanistan.

Dr. Sabine Lindemann from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development opened the conference. A civil society delegation of 34 members, of which 16 are women, attended the conference. Many of them spoke about the challenges faced by women and other civil society organizations in Afghanistan, one of which is the need for a collective and coherent approach of international NGO's working with civil society organizations in Afghanistan. Suraya Parlika, director of All Afghan Women Union (AAWU) said, "helping Afghanistan should not simply be a project, but a long-term process". Concluding the conference proceedings, Ms. Gürtner of GIZ emphasized the need for a long-term and sustainable support for international and Afghan women and civil society organizations.

Prior to leaving for Bonn, a three-members delegation of Gender Concerns International handed over a letter to the German Embassy in The Hague for Chancellor Angela Merkel, requesting her support and recognition for the brave and hard-work of European and other International women and civil society organizations that is being done in rather unsafe and hard conditions in Afghanistan.

To many, the Bonn Conference will be a test-case for the International Community to ensure its support to women's human rights and inclusive governance in Afghanistan. Gender Concerns International sincerely hopes that the transition and peace process talks will be inclusive and transparent and will allow women to independently participate at policy-making level and that the international community will acknowledge the contribution of the work of Afghan and International women and civil society organizations to further the process of security and development in Afghanistan.