Author: Sayed Hussain Hussainy

The initiation of peace negotiation with the Taliban has created both hope for lasting peace and fear of imposing restrictions on women’s rights. Women and civil society activists say that the government negotiating team should not accept such restrictions.In an interview with the CSHRN, Mr. Danishyar said that women’s rights should be one of the main subjects to be properly discussed in the peace talks. He added that women’s rights to education, active participation in political, civil, and social sphere should not face any limitations. Efforts should be made to appreciate and support their achievements.  CSHRN: How much do you think that the presence of women in peace talks affects the position of the Taliban?Danishyar: In my opinion, the Taliban are not satisfied with the presence of women in the negotiating team or even with the participation of female journalists during the peace talks. Also, the presence of women in the government after the peace agreement is not acceptable for them, but due to the pressure of the international community, they are almost forced to accept their presence.CSHRN: How will the presence of the Taliban in power affect the activities of civil society?Danishyar: I believe that the Taliban cannot withhold citizen’s civil liberties and freedom of thought and expression. Conflicts may arise sporadically, which I think can be resolved in accordance with the wisdom of civil rights activists, and their activities will continue. CSHRN: How can peace talks be used as an opportunity for Afghan women?Danishyar: Women face many challenges, including security concerns. For this reason, women cannot carry out their civic and educational activities in a safe environment. With the establishment of peace, these challenges can turn into opportunities. Additionally, with the realization of peace, girls and women who are currently deprived of education because of conflicts can enjoy…

Disbelief in the peace process and a change in the perspectives of the Taliban towards women increases among Afghan citizens. As the Taliban’s attacks continue after they signed a peace agreement with the United States, many  Afghans stress the need for an assurance that the Taliban will not violate the terms of the agreement after peace talks with the government.“Experience from the Taliban-US peace agreement shows that Taliban are not trustworthy. They think only of their own benefits and the fact that they have made the release of prisoners a pre-condition for the negotiations shows that their aim is to return to war.” Ms. Bashiri added that the Taliban would continue to violate their commitments until they are pressured by the international community.CSHRN: Do you think there is the possibility of getting a commitment from the Taliban?Bashiri: The international community and countries involved in the peace negotiations must assure the people of Afghanistan that the deal will be respected.CSHRN: Do you think there has been a change in the Taliban's perspective with regards to women?Bashiri: According to the women who participated in the previous talks, the Taliban have positive view of women's right to work and education, but in practice we have not seen any significant changes. According to Ms. Bashiri, issues such as women's rights and their political participation.should be discussed in the peace negotiations. In general, women should not experience the dark days of Taliban era once again.CSHRN: What is the biggest problem that the Taliban’s presence in Ghor has caused for women?Bashiri: The Taliban’s summary trials are a great terror that we have been witnessing in this province for years. Rakhshaneh's brutal stoning and shooting of Aziza is an example of dozens of cases that have unfortunately taken place near the provincial capital. On the…

The Taliban’s continued killings and bloodshed following a peace deal with the United States of America, has turned the group to an unreliable partner. Experts believe that guarantees offered by the group to fulfill its commitments under a peace agreement in particular with regard to women’s rights is not sufficient. Farid Ahmad Amiri, a socio-political activist, told the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) that the only way to ensure Taliban do not violate their post-negotiation commitments, especially on women's rights, international community must offer guarantee. "The agreement that will be signed between the government and the Taliban must also entail signature of international community, international human rights institutions and countries that support democracy and freedoms." Network: Experts believe that there is a difference of opinion between the political leaders of the Taliban and the Taliban on the battlefield, will the negotiations reach a favorable outcome? Amiri: I think it is naive to expect a lasting peace after the peace deal. A fragile peace may be established, but the conflict may still continue as some members of the Taliban may either form new fronts or join other terrorist groups due to the differences of opinion among them. Network: What do you mean by the differences of opinion among Taliban members? Amiri: Some numbers of the Taliban are extreme and view conflict as the only viable option, while others are committed to peace. Some of the Taliban fighters are foreign nationals who fight the government of Afghanistan, will continue to fight by joining the ISIS or other terrorist groups. However, a large number of Taliban members who are under the influence of their political leaders, if properly managed, could join the peace settlement. Women's rights and freedom of expression are among the values ​​that Mr. Amiri believes are…

Security has been long recognized as a threat to the working lives of different segments of the Afghan society. It has been the main obstacle to the development of many citizens, and businesswomen in Herat are no exception. In an interview with the CSHRN, Nafasgol Jami, a businesswoman from Herat, said that security concerns often discourages women to work. “Women working in the food or carpet weaving sector cannot travel to the villages, neither can rural women relocate their businesses to the city” Ms. Jami adds that businesswomen do not enjoy the same opportunity as businessmen do. And, they cannot move from one province to another to carry out their economic activities.   Network: Aside from business, what other activities do you do? Jami: I have been involved in various women-related fields for the past fifteen years. Currently, I have twenty-five employees in my company, and around one hundred people are benefited from its activities. Previously, I was in charge of eighty women working in the food processing, carpet waving, handicrafts and embroidery sectors. Network: Apart from security problems, what are other problems businesswomen face in Herat? Jami: The traditional structure of society and the negative attitude of men towards women's employment are major obstacles to the development of businesswomen in Herat. Men do not treat women as equal to realize the fact that women have the ability and talent to manage businesses and work for the improvement of the economy of their family and country. According to Ms. Jami, the government has not kept its promises to provide suitable working conditions and assist women in improving their businesses. She adds that women businessmen are not in a good position in terms of lack of facilities and meeting their economic needs; and there is no suitable market for…

Women with disabilities have always sought government attention on a number of issues, including the provision of educational facilities. As the peace talks heats up, women with disabilities in Balkh are calling on the government to involve them in the process.In an interview with the CSHRN, Parvaneh Sama Samadi, head of the Social Association of Women with Disabilities in Balkh, said that women with disabilities are the main victims of war, because it has maimed them. They now call on the government to include their representatives in the negotiating team.CSHRN: How optimistic are you about the outcome of the peace talks?If the talks are not behind closed doors, and the voices of women—especially women with disabilities—are heard, we can hold out hope for positive results.This organization is concerned that women’s effort might go in vain. According to Ms. Samadi, women with disabilities are more worried than anyone else about their achievements to be compromised.CSHRN: What is the main reason for women's disability in Balkh?Although the government has divided them into war and non-war inflected disabilities having different privileges, war is considered as one main cause. While disavowing this dichotomy, Ms. Samadi believes that non-war driven factor can also be the main driver for women’s disabilities in one way or another. If a pregnant woman, for example, does not have access to required facilities such as health care, clinic and hospitals in a conflict situation, child’s disability with psychiatric condition will be the dire consequence. CSHRN: What privileges do disabled people have?Samadi: People with war disabilities receive a salary of sixty thousand Afghanis a year from the government, but people with non-war disabilities receive no benefits. She added that besides facing many other challenges, women with disabilities are always ignored and isolated and by their families and society as a…

Experts believe that, in peace negotiations with the Taliban, more general concerns should be agreed upon first. They maintain that democratic and human rights values are among the elements that if Taliban respect, women’s right will be available as a sub-element. "It is not yet evident whether or not the Taliban will agree with us on respecting values such as democracy, human rights, equality, cultural diversity and religion. If so, women's rights including their political participation in power will be attainable as a subset of these values." says Mohammad Yasin Negah. CSHRN: Do you think the Taliban's view has changed about women?Negah: From my perspective, Taliban views have not changed on many issues including women rights, democracy, election, republic system and equality. This group is still radical, extreme and violent. It would be naive to believe that Taliban’s views of women rights and democratic values have changed.CSHRN: It is probable that in order to reach a peace deal with the Taliban, the government may accept some restrictions with regard to women’s rights. What restrictions do you think they would be?Negah: As supporters of the government of Afghanistan, we must defend democracy, election and women’s rights as our red lines. We are in a rightful position and we must not retreat in any way. If the ransom process begins, the restrictions will increase. The Taliban may long for hoisting the flag of their Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan and wish to re-establish a violent and lawless government. Therefore, we have to fight such a mindset and reject any restriction.CSHRN: Do you think the government team has the necessary ability to negotiate?Negah: The negotiation process requires negotiation knowledge and skills including the art ofChallenges the opposite side and maneuvering delicate margins. However, I believe that the government’s negotiating team does not…

Some women activists believe that the participation of women as half the population of the country is very important in the peace process and they should play a constructive role in it. According to these activists, peace cannot be achieved without a meaningful presence of women in the peace talks. In an interview with the CSHRN, Ms. Nezami said that despite being capable individuals, women in the negotiating team are not deeply involved in decisive and important issues. But given that there are no women in the Taliban team, women's membership in the government's negotiating team is a positive step. CSHRN: Is the presence of women in the negotiating team satisfactory in terms of quantity? The number of women in the government’s negotiating team is not enough, but we support them as the voice and the representatives of Afghan women. If this small number of representatives can defend the political and social rights of women, we can say they are a strong/capable team. CSHRN: What is women’s demand from peace talks? Nezami: Women should not be deprived of education, neither should their political and social rights be ignored. Women should be able to actively participate in society; a businesswoman, for instance, must be allowed to pursue her business activities. In general, women should enjoy equal rights as men, because their activities are equally important for the progress and development of the country. CSHRN: What issues should be the government's red lines in peace talks? Nezami: The achievements of recent years, including democracy, women rights to education and employment, and their active participation in the political and social sphere should be the government’s red line. CSHRN: How much do you think the Taliban's involvement in the government will affect the activities of women's rights activists? Nezami: There is a…

Compromising women’s rights during the peace talks has raised public concerns. Many activists urge the government negotiating team to safeguard women’s rights including the right to education and work in their discussion with the Taliban. Speaking to CSHRN, Mr. Rashid mentioned education as the inalienable right of women, which is guaranteed by the country’s national law. CSHRN: Do you think the Afghan negotiating team in the peace talks will stand for this right? Rashid: The negotiations require extensive discussions and debates, which has raised public concerns over the inability of the Afghan negotiating team members to safeguard this right and the other achievements gained in the last two decades. CSHRN: What are other concerns with regard to women’s rights that should be addressed in the peace talks? Rashid: women’s social and political participation is a critical point, as well as the public execution that is being regularly carried out by the Taliban must be stopped now and forever. CSHRN: Given the Taliban’s nature, do you thing the peace talks will still pay off? Rashid: I think the Taliban’s view of women has changed to some extent. They now understand the important role of women in public life and the right to education. And yet, they may still oppose certain women’s rights and impose restrictions on women’s access to education. CSHRN: How will the Taliban’s presence in power affect women’s activities? Rashid: The Taliban have changed to some extent. The group now knows the critical role of women in development processes, which has been enshrined in the country’s national compacts and international legal documents to which Afghanistan is a state party. Therefore, any opposition by the Taliban will not be acceptable by others. CSHRN: What should be done to support peace efforts? Rashid: Civil society activists and other institutions…

Criticizing the poor quality of negotiations between the government and the Taliban, some experts call the government's position on defending what is accepted as a red line, unstable. In an interview with the CSHRN, Mr. Hussaini said that the red lines set by the government fluctuate and turn greener every day, making him less optimistic about the government’s position to stand for a red line.CSHRN: Tell us more about your assessment of the peace talks.Hussaini: The essence of having a negotiation is good and has been welcomed by the national and international community, but unfortunately its technical and political problems are worrying. It is concerning when the Taliban insist on some presuppositions they had in the past.CSHRN: What presuppositions do you mean?Hussaini: Presuppositions regarding democracy and elections. The group also places little importance on women and disregards human rights values. All of this shows that the Taliban are still pursuing the same Islamic Emirate views, with only a slight change in their dealings with the United States.CSHRN: Do you think that the negotiations with this group will succeed?Hussaini: I think that this negotiation is not about sustainable peace, development, good governance, or reviving the nation’s trust. Rather, it is a project set up with some internal and external groups. Otherwise, how do countries that claim to be defenders of human rights, women's rights, and democracy agree to pressurize the Afghan government to release the 5,000 terrorists who were involved in the killings and bombings, in advance? This shows that, unfortunately, the values that are being raised and highlighted in the dialogue have been ignored.CSHRN: What do you think are the important issues for women that should be emphasized in the negotiations?Hussaini: That women are equal to men, they should be able to participate in decision-making, and should not…

A number of civil society activists believe that peace negotiation is the right decision and a dire need for the people despite its unclear outcome.In an interview with the CSHRN, Mr. Stanekzai said that people are tired of war, and the start of peace talks is an opportunity to get out of this situation. He believes that Afghanistan as a country with a weak economy needs peace, and he hopes for the outcome of the negotiations to ensure peace in the country.CSHRN: What opportunities and hopes have peace talks created for women?Stanekzai: I think one of the most important opportunities in these conversations is that women in the negotiating team can discuss issues about themselves directly with the opposing team.CSHRN: What issues do you think the women on the negotiating team should discuss with the opposing team?Stanekzai: I think they should emphasize the preservation of the achievements of the last two decades and their rights. All team members should also discuss access to justice, minority rights, victims of war, and freedom of expression and defend them as their red lines.CSHRN: If the Taliban were in power, will women still have the current civil liberties?Stanekzai: This is unpredictable, but I hope the Taliban change their views about it; so that all citizens, including women and youth, have the opportunity to achieve their rights.CSHRN: If restrictions on women’s rights were to be imposed in the peace talks, do you think that it would be acceptable?Stanekzai: In recent years, we have made significant achievements, including the adoption and implementation of national and international laws. I do not think that they should be ignored.CSHRN: What are your concerns about the peace talks?My first concern is that peace negotiation’s failure will harm both sides, and it is not clear how many of their…