US Afghan Strategy and women voices from Afghanistan and the region
Official Press Release
The Hague, 2nd December 2009
US Afghan Strategy and Women's Voices from Afghanistan and the Region
Women in this region need involvement and resources to contribute to the national and the international security, Palwasha Kaker Deputy Minister Women’s Affairs in Afghanistan.
President Obama’s Deployment and Departure Schedule of US Forces is welcome.
The US President Obama and the international community need to come up with a clear workable strategy that ensures actual allocation of resources for the women of war torn Afghanistan and its neighbour Pakistan
As reaction to much awaited US Strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, that was made public yesterday by President Obama, regional and international reaction is emerging from those who are most effected and concerned about the security situation, namely the women in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
On behalf of the Regional Gender Conflict and Development (RGCD) Platform that was formed in Kabul last July and is represented by Gender Concerns International in Europe, “We welcome the schedule of deployment and departure of US forces as presented by president Obama on 1st of December. Thecapacity building of local law enforcing agencies and security skills development process need clear implementation targets. However that alone will not guarantee Peace and stability in that fragile region if the civil society organisations and especially women are not considered as stakeholders and partners in broader national and international peace and security related consultations. International community must make sure that the involvement of women of the region is a guarantee to its successful and sustainable Regional Security Package” says Sabra Bano, spokesperson of the RGCD Platform.
While speaking with Gender Concerns International this morning over the telephone, Palwasha Kaker, Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs in Afghanistan has also welcomed the US strategy but emphasized the need for more budget for women and her Ministry to reassure security for all in Afghanistan
To discuss the US New Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan and its impact on the women of the region Gender Concerns International will organize a gender strategy meeting in early January 2010. For more information about this meeting please click here.
For more details and to read the entire text of President Obama’s speech please click here.
For further information please contact:
, Gender Concerns International:
Phone: 00 31 (070) 4445082
Fax: 00 31 (070) 4445083
Direct: 00 31 (070) 4445084
Mobile: 06 53965784
Gender Concerns International
Laan van Meerdervoort 70
2517 AN, The Hague
Email: hasna@genderconcerns.nl