Author: Sayed Hussain Hussainy

Afghan women lives have been affected from every aspect during the Taliban’s era making them more concerned than other citizens about the outcome of peace talks. “Everyone suffered in some way during the dark era of Taliban and war and violence is continuing to be witnessed with their presence. We look forward to end it.” said Ms. Mashal in an interview with CSHRN. CSHRN: What is the current situation of women in Kapisa?Mashal Beigi: Although women have made countless commendable progress across the country in the post-Taliban era, I do not suppose enough has been achieved. Women in Kapisa have limited access to their basic rights and only few of them can access their rights and privileges.CSHRN: What have been the activities of Kapisa civil society with regards to peace?Mashal Beigi: In the past one to two months, we held about three programs and gatherings on this issue, which were aimed at educating people, especially women. She added that we should use the experiences of other countries with similar transitions to prepare people mentally.CSHRN: What are the demands of the people of Kapisa for the peace process?People demand transparent dialogue to discuss unemployment among young generation which is one of the reasons for their joining of the opposite group. Coherence in the structure of the programs of the High Peace Council and the presence of women in decision-making levels are other demands of people, especially women, in Kapisa. According to her to make sure that people, especially women, do not fall victim of peace process, international guarantees are needed.CSHRN: How do you evaluate the presence of women from Kapisa in various sectors?Mashal Beigi: Gender discrimination is one of the critical concerns that disables women from going to work in their desired sector. Furthermore, some families oppose their daughter’s education and…

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…

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…

The creation of a separate assembly from the government by women is one of the issues that has been emphasized many times. According to some civil society activists, women's independent movements and their nationwide advocacy could be one of the ways for them to succeed.In an interview with the CSHRN, Zia Mobalegh, a civil society activist, said that women could represent more than half of the country's population and protect their rights by creating independent movements."Many women's movements, especially by the mothers of the victims in the world (such as Turkey and Argentina), have achieved great historic success, but in Afghanistan women have not yet been able to act as an independent movement to restore their rights." Women's groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are always trying to get what they want through the government. Therefore, from the Taliban's point of view, they are the ones appointed by the government to negotiate."CSHRN: Will an Independent Women's Movement Influence the Taliban?Mobalegh: Such a movement, regardless of its immediate influence, must be created as an important need for the future and a voice from within the community, with the aim of influencing the Taliban. Its agenda must also be determined by the women themselves, not by those on both sides of the conflict. This movement must represent all women; meaning that women of all provinces and the Taliban’s widows. In short, the lack of such widespread representation would deprive women of their rights.On the other hand, according to Mr. Moblagh, the gender composition of the negotiating team indicates the existence of beliefs that women do not need to participate extensively. He added that the number of women on the team shows that women's rights and their right to participate in important national processes such as the peace process are being ignored.…

One of the major concerns is the issue of ignoring women’s rights and achievements. Some women's rights activists in Baghlan have recently expressed their concern with the slogan "We will not retreat to the past." In peace-related matters, women’s achievements attained through hard-work should not be ignored or sacrificed", says Royina Raisi, president of New Season Community, in an interview with CSHRNCSHRN: Which issues should be discussed in peace talks with regards to women? Raisi: Women’s rights to education and employment should be preserved following a peace agreement. These rights are enshrined both in Islam and the constitution, leaving no reasons for school gates to be closed. Referring to the composition of the negotiating team and the insignificant presence of women in politics, Ms. Raisi said that they should be given equal share of opportunity based on their merits, talents, and abilities. Moreover, the team should be comprised of women who can represent all women and defend from their rights.CSHRN: Can female members of the negotiating team represent Afghan women?Raisi: The current composition with limited number of women, five members only, cannot represent women, because they are affiliated to parties and speak just for their benefits. Naturally, they cannot represent women who have paid sacrifice for years.CSHRN: What will happen if the necessary agreement is not reached in the intra-Afghan negotiations?Raisi: Restrictions might be imposed, especially on women who are involved in the judiciary like us. Taliban have already criticized our activities in this sector. Furthermore, female journalists and women in politics may face difficulties in terms of freedom of speech and thought.According to her, women in Baghlan are still facing various problems, including security, which in some cases prevent them from going to work. "Sometimes, we cannot implement our awareness programs outside the city or even in the…

One of the major concerns is the issue of ignoring women’s rights and achievements. Some women's rights activists in Baghlan have recently expressed their concern with the slogan "We will not retreat to the past." In peace-related matters, women’s achievements attained through hard-work should not be ignored or sacrificed", says Royina Raisi, president of New Season Community, in an interview with CSHRNCSHRN: Which issues should be discussed in peace talks with regards to women? Raisi: Women’s rights to education and employment should be preserved following a peace agreement. These rights are enshrined both in Islam and the constitution, leaving no reasons for school gates to be closed. Referring to the composition of the negotiating team and the insignificant presence of women in politics, Ms. Raisi said that they should be given equal share of opportunity based on their merits, talents, and abilities. Moreover, the team should be comprised of women who can represent all women and defend from their rights.CSHRN: Can female members of the negotiating team represent Afghan women?Raisi: The current composition with limited number of women, five members only, cannot represent women, because they are affiliated to parties and speak just for their benefits. Naturally, they cannot represent women who have paid sacrifice for years.CSHRN: What will happen if the necessary agreement is not reached in the intra-Afghan negotiations?Raisi: Restrictions might be imposed, especially on women who are involved in the judiciary like us. Taliban have already criticized our activities in this sector. Furthermore, female journalists and women in politics may face difficulties in terms of freedom of speech and thought.According to her, women in Baghlan are still facing various problems, including security, which in some cases prevent them from going to work. "Sometimes, we cannot implement our awareness programs outside the city or even in the…

As we approach the peace negotiation with the Taliban and the appointment of men-and-women delegation to it, compromising women’s rights and achievements becomes more concerning. Some women’s rights activists in Kunduz claim that without considering women’s rights, peace is incomplete. Ms. Golestani said that, aside from security concerns, lack of job opportunities and lack of job security are among the issues that women expect to be addressed with the establishment of a peace deal. “The Head of Women’s Affairs is the only government post run by a woman which is symbolic. While a significant number of women in Kunduz are eligible to run Social Deputy of Kunduz, they cannot dare to run because of threats. Instead this office is held by a man for several years.”CSHRN: How do you assess women’s presence in the governmental offices?Golestani: When women are not in key decision-making positions having the same authority as men, it cannot be considered as their bold presence in the offices. Currently women just work for a living. She adds that since women’s rights is an important part of the peace negotiation with the Taliban, women in Kunduz urge the negotiators to ensure nothing remains ambiguous with regards to their rights and clarify all Taliban conditions. For instance, if the Taliban respect women’s right to education, the conditions for respecting their rights should be clarified as well.CSHRN: What are the security problems for women, especially for employed women of Kunduz?Golestani: Opposition presence during the nights, threatens both life and job of well-known working women. Therefore, they cannot live far from Kunduz Square. She adds lack of job security for women as another challenge and says that “Women face insecurity not just because of the existence of moral issues and physical harassment in their workplace, but gender discrimination and…

Although Bamyan has always been mentioned as one of the safest provinces in the country, especially for women, it seems that in some parts of the province, insecurity, and extreme ideology have become a serious problem for women and girls in this province. Zakia Rezaie, Bamyan's Director of Women's Affairs said that in some districts of the province, girls are not allowed to study above the primary school level. She added that about forty-seven percent of girls in Bamyan now attend school, but the number of dropout of female students in the high school level in some districts increases each year.In an interview with the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (hereinafter referred to as "the Network"), the Director of Women's affairs in Bamyan said that they have special programs of increasing girls' participation in the education sector. But their programs are hampered by insecurity in some districts sometimes. "The Bamyan Department of Women's Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, is holding an annual campaign to increase the enrollment of girls in schools. We are making the necessary arrangements with security officials before the program is implemented, and if it is impossible to eliminate the risk, we do not often visit some of those insecure areas."The feeling of not being safe not only bothers women in insecure districts and villages of Bamyan, but it also troubles working women in unsafe working environments.Network: What problems do Bamyan women have at work?Rezaie: Some women complain about physical and psychological harassment. Also, due to the traditional structure of society, some offices are male-oriented making the working environment difficult for women. Moreover, women suffer from lack of facilities which are recognized as their rights in the law. For instance, there is no kindergarten in some offices for their children. Despite…

Since the selection of members of the peace negotiation in Doha, not only the disproportion between male and female members of the peace delegation is under question, the absence of civil society representatives from the peace talks is also highly worrying.In an interview with the CSHRN, Ms. Saqib added that despite the efforts to integrate women into the composition of the peace delegation, the absence of civil society representatives, journalists, and other women's groups is alarming. "Although the female members of the negotiation team are committed to women's rights, they primarily represent various political parties, and priority for them would be their political interests" So if the composition is not revised, the rights of women will remain at stake. " The imbalance in the number of male and female representatives in the composition of the negotiating team is also one of the issues that have been criticized by some experts, said Ms. Saqib. War and peace are usually masculine. Despite the fact that women are heavily impacted by war, they are usually marginalized in peace discussions. "Women can play an important role in peace negotiation as they constitute more than half of the population and they are the main victims of war. If women's role is ignored, the peace settlement will not be sustainable. "Network: What are women’s expectations from peace negotiations?Saqib: First and foremost, women expect that a ceasefire is agreed upon. And, the right to participate in social, political, economic, and educational activities are among women’s other demands. Finally, they expect that a mechanism is in place which protects the human rights of women.Ms. Saqib argues that corruption and unsafe working environment are among other challenges that women expect to get rid of in the post-peace political system. "Corruption and unsafe working environment sometimes force women…