Afghan Women and the International Security Agenda
Press Release
The Hague 20th April 2012
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Afghan Women and the International Security Agenda
NATO Concludes Preparation Talks for Chicago Summit on Afghanistan
High-level talks were concluded yesterday at NATO Headquarters in Brussels as representatives from the NATO allies, ISAF members, European Union, the United Nations and Afghan ministers “discussed the road ahead in Afghanistan.”[1] NATO states that the meetings are to prepare participants for what will be the largest NATO summit to date, scheduled for Chicago in May this year.
But after two days of intense discussions about the fate of Afghanistan, the question looms—where are Afghan women in the debate?
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In his statement to the press on 19 April 2012, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen commented that the summit will remind “Afghan partners” of their commitment to support women’s rights. Although reminding the Afghanistan government of its human rights obligations to women is important, the international community must also honour its own commitment to Afghan women.
Gender Concerns International appeals to the international community to give Afghan women a genuine place at the decision-making table in peace and security talks. Rather than only discussing the impact of transition strategy on Afghan women, NATO needs to make a firm commitment that Afghan women will be included in decisions made at every step of the way in the lead up to transition. Consultation is not enough. As enumerated in Security Council Resolution 1325, there is a distinct need to increase women’s role in decision-making and ensure “full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.”[2]
This includes making sure that enough resources are allocated to effectively and sustainably include women in security and law and order mechanisms in Afghanistan. As the primary protection mechanism for women in post-transition Afghanistan, the “330,000 Afghan security forces” trained by NATO should include a large proportion of women, or at the very least, tackle the issues which prevent them from inclusion. As long-term supporter of Afghan women, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently stated, long-term peace and security in Afghanistan is impossible without including half the population.
Gender Concerns International is optimistic that NATO’s Chicago summit on Afghanistan will uphold the mandate of UN SCR 1325 to ensure that women are genuine participants in the implementation of the peace and security agenda in Afghanistan.
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For more information, please contact Mellaney Rodriguez, Program Coordinator Inclusive Governance and Transition tel. 070 444 50 82, email: mellaney@genderconcerns.org
www.genderconcerns.org
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[1] 19 April 2012, Press conference by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_86299.htm.
[2] United Nations, “UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (S/RES/1325)” (New York: UN, 31 October 2000), http://www.un.org/docs/scres/2000/SC2000/htm
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