Author: Sayed Hussain Hussainy

Among women's concerns about the ambiguous consequences of peace talks, some believe that women will not be able to achieve their rights unless they change their approach.In an interview with the CSHRN, Mr. Ahmadi said that Afghan women will fail if they continue on the same path they have chosen for years. They have to reconsider their methods used in the post-Taliban period. Women need to fight for their rights. Otherwise, they will fail.CSHRN: Can women’s underrepresentation in the government’s negotiating team weaken women’s position?Ahmadi: First, defending women's rights is not only the responsibility of women, but also of men. Secondly, I do not believe that quantity is as important as quality. It would be useless if dozens of female representatives were in this group, but could not defend women's rights.CSHRN: Do women in negotiating team have the ability to be the true representative of women?Ahmadi: They are committed, but what enhances their ability to defend women's rights is shared view with other team members and social support.CSHRN: Where does this social support come from?Ahmadi: In pursuit of their rights, women can create movements that will help them achieve their rights and social support. Mr. Ahmadi added that women can use social media, meetings, rallies and marches to voice their objections to both sides of the negotiation, in which case it is certain that team members can better defend them.CSHRN: Who should voice such objections?Ahamdi: Female students and professors, women activists, female journalists, teachers must all speak with one voice and demand their rights clearly. They can defend their rights by becoming a single and independent voice.According to him, some believe that only men should be involved in matters of war and peace. However, women can play a decisive role in these issues with unity and seriousness.  CSHRN: Have…

After the fall of the Taliban regime, profoundchanges took place in different sections of the society. Theyoung  generation,  both boys and girlshave access to educational opportunities. These opportunities have become the basis for further progress and success in recent years. The presence of women in various sectors, including governmentalpositions and social activities  are  part of these successes.In an interview with  the CSHRN, Mr. Rahmani said that the Taliban's demands indicate that they want to revive the Islamic Emirate which is not acceptable for the people of Afghanistan. Women who are highly educated and hold public office, work in society or have private businesses cannot be ignored. It is also impossible to sacrifice a young generation of millions  who are graduated from  unviversities seeking change.CSHRN: How can women’s presence in the peace talks affect the Taliban’s view of women?Rahmani: Women’s presence in the government’s team surprised the Taliban. However, the Taliban’s views of women have not changed and as long as the Taliban do not accept the objective social, political and cultural facts of the last two decades about women, and until there is a profound ideological shift in their beliefs, we should be seriously concerned about the violation of women's rights in areas where the Taliban will control after the peace agreement. Both male and female members of the negotiating team should act as moderate Muslims to represent the value of our constitution.CSHRN: If the Taliban impose restrictions on women's rights, what should be the government's position?Rahmani: Any restrictions on women's rights should be addressed. We aspire for peace but the Taliban want killing and destruction. However, war is preferable to authoritarian peace. If an authoritarian peace is established, it will not last more than five years before a civil war is shaped. It is better for the…

The presence of women representatives in the government's negotiating team for peace talks is one of the issues that many believe can have a significant impact on the quality and the outcome of negotiations. Some believe that the very presence of women in peace talks will convey to the opposing team the fact that women in Afghanistan today are more aware than ever and will never step back.In an interview with the CSHRN, Mr. Ashrafi Khorasani said that women, as one of the main victims of war and violence in the country, could be the voice of justice in an international level and their presence in peace talks would convey to the opposing team the fact that Afghan women will not accept the return to Taliban regime. He added, "The presence of women, in fact, warns the opposing group that Afghan women have reached the needed awareness and are not currently returning to the Taliban emirate, because women today, given their growth and development, want to participate in political power and to own authority to live in an open-minded society where they can work side by side with men for their excellence and evolvement. I think this will definitely be effective."CSHRN: How do you assess the peace talks?Ashrafi Khorasani: Our society needs peace in any case and I hope we can achieve a long-lasting peace in any way possible. It is satisfactory to start the talks in a preliminary way and to enter the so-called stage of peace-building. The fact that the two sides are sitting around the negotiating table instead of fighting is a success and this promises peace throughout the country.CSHRN: Is restrictions acceptable on women’s rights?Ashrafi Khorasani: I think there may be some restrictions and we have to pay this price to achieve peace, but…

Some of the citizens with concern to the result of peace talks say that, if a proper and credible commitment is not going to be made with Taliban, the citizens specially women in Afghanistan may experience the Taliban regime once again.In an interview with the CSHRN, Khodadad Watankhah said that their main concern is that, Taliban as power partner in Afghanistan, use their ideologies of their regime while dealing with women. Yahia Erfan added, “We are seriously concerned that after peace talks, the Taliban use the same misogynous looks as they used to do during their regime towards women. If Afghan government and world community do not emphasize rigidly on protecting women’s rights, they might be more restricted even like thirty years back and that is a disaster.”CSHRN: According to what Taliban’s leaders have said in inaugural of peace talks, they still persist in establishment of an Islamic government in Afghanistan, do you think making peace with such group will lead to desired result?Erfan: According to my opinion, controversy over Islamic government is something far from the fact. Because if there is an argument about Islam, the constitution of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the system that Laws and provisions, procedures and doctrines are implemented based on that, are all Islamic. No law is enforced if it is against Islamic norms. Therefore, I believe talking about Islamic government is a kind of blackmail. In another words, Taliban want to have the control of the process in order to convince the government of Afghanistan of some other terms and desires of themselves.CSHRN: How should the government use the peace talks as an opportunity?Erfan: Since the government of Afghanistan has entered into the dialogues with a comprehensive and proper position, this is a good opportunity to create a new national debate…

A number of women's rights activists in Kapisa say the outcome of the talks will not be satisfactory if the women members of the negotiating team do not agree on issues to be discussed in the peace talks and how to raise them with the Taliban.“Despite the skepticism about the outcome of the peace process; I hope the delegates are honest and move forward with the same points of view”, said Sarah Sirat, a women's rights activist in Kapisa, in an interview with the CSHRN.Criticizing the inequality of the number of male and female representatives in the negotiating team; some women activists say that because peace and war are believed by some to be masculine, women have a smaller share of the team, but Ms. Sirat believes that women have never been to war and they have been the common victims of the war. Ms. Sirat added, “Women have always lost their brothers, husbands, fathers and children, and they have suffered a lot psychologically and hence they should not stay in the minority in decisions that affect their destiny”.According to Ms. Sirat, the absence of representatives of the media, civil society and victims of war in peace talks is seen and felt, and since some of these groups do not trust the transparency of this process, they have the right to be present and be informed of its content.CSHRN: What problems do women face in Kapisa?Sirat: One of the main problems for women in the province is insecurity, which sometimes causes girls and women to be forced to drop out of school and work; a problem that is more prevalent in Taliban-held districts.According to Ms. Sirat, another part of women's problems in Kapisa is related to job opportunities. She says, “Study opportunity is good here and one member…

Asma Sahebzada talked about her school days, that she has always dreamed of having a building for the school where she was studying. Even now that she has studied until higher level, she is dissatisfied with the education conditions of women in her neighborhood because, according to her, issues such as insecurity is still an obstacle to women's education and their progress. In an interview with the CSHRN, Asma Sahebzada said that the biggest issue women in Baghlan face is their low level of education and they cannot continue learning due to insecurity. She adds, “One of the points that always reminds me is that I am not a master’s degree holder and therefore my privileges as a lecturer are not added. The problem is that in the current situation, there is no room for more education and capacity building for female lecturers.” CSHRN: Please tell us more about your experience regarding this problem. Sahebzadeh: For me, insecurity has not only prevented me from continuing my education, but also I have sometimes missed opportunities to enhance my skills and gain effective work experience. Due to some security considerations, including once in a legal education program in one of the districts, I was selected as a teacher, but I could not participate due to insecurity; The program organizers said that they would not insure the security, so I missed that opportunity just because it was impossible for me to travel alone in that unsafe situation. CSHRN: Apart from what you said, what other problems do the women of Baghlan face? Sahebzadeh: Women in the provinces have always been marginalized to the toughest point because in a way, the message reaches them that they cannot do great and effective things. The rights of Baghlan women have always been violated, for…

She speaks of her sister’s interest and endless efforts pursuing higher education. Graduation from high school aspired her to pursue further education in India. At that time, parents in Daykundi did not allow their daughters to study. However, her parents allowed her to go to India. Maryam Azadah Hussaini said that her sister Najiba Hussaini successfully finished her bachelor’s degree despite of challenges and being away from home.Najiba Hussaini returned to the country after accomplishing her bachelor's degree in 2011 and worked in a department of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. In 2014, she secured a merit-based scholarship in Japan. She received her master’s degree and returned to Afghanistan. She started her previous job until one day all things has changed forever.Najiba had thrived despite of adversities and challenges. Unfortunately, her successes turned into grief. She died of a suicide attack by Taliban in the vehicle of the employees of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum going to the workplace just a few days after her family celebrated her 28th birthday.On the day of the incident, Maryam arrived at the scene first. Since their parents live in Daykundi, Maryam, her brother, her relatives, and Najiba’s colleagues started searching for her body. Maryam finally identified Najiba’s body in the hospital.As Najiba's only sister, Maryam not only bears the brunt of the bitter memories of the day of the accident over the sweet memories with her sister but also remembers Najiba's day-and-night efforts to achieve her dreams, which eventually all caught fire with her. Maryam shared the same room with Najiba and witnessed her efforts for getting acceptance for Japan’s scholarship. Every time she woke up, she saw Najiba studying tirelessly to achieve her desired result.Ms. Hussaini said that she and her family have not yet been able to…

Some social activists believe that there should be a guarantee of women's fundamental rights protection in the peace agreement. Otherwise, the agreement would not have validity. In an interview by CSHRN, Mr. Farwak said that protection of women’s rights must be highly considered; negligence of it will jeopardize success in the implementation of the peace agreement. Due to systematic injustice waged on Afghan women throughout the history of Afghanistan, it is worth mentioning that there should be guarantees of women’s rights protection in the peace agreement. Their rights to education, work, and political participation are the main issues or concerns.   CSHRN: What is your assessment of the peace talks so far? Farwak: Prospects of peace negotiations depend on three factors: the US election, the influence of engaged regional powers in ongoing chaos in Afghanistan, and the interest issues of the Afghan government and Taliban. Firstly, the US election highly overshadowed the peace negotiations. It caused to stop the peace talks for a while and the Afghan negotiators returned to Afghanistan. Secondly, throughout the peace process, we have witnessed the escalation of conflict and the rise of terror and violence caused by regional powers in pursuit of their own interests. Finally, the negotiating parties are pursuing their own interests instead of finding a solution for ongoing chaos.     CSHRN: Given the history of Taliban, especially with regards to women, what consequences will the peace talks have on the social and political presence of women?Farwak: Considering the Afghan women’s vision of peace talks, they perceive it with two different insights. The Afghan women whose family members are foot soldiers whether in government military forces or are fighting for Taliban are hoping the end of the conflict as soon as possible. They wish reunion of their family members when they are concerned regarding…

Some women activists believe that Afghan women should start independent movements to advocate and defend their rights, especially after the start of peace talks, which has raised some concerns about their rights being ignored. These activists believe that there is the capacity to create such movements among the country's educated women and girls. In an interview with CSHRN, Niloufar Langar said that It should not be forgotten that a large number of Afghan women have gone to school and university in the last two decades, worked and demonstrated their potential in various fields. Afghan women, especially the educated ones, have the capacity for such movements and they only need motivation to start.CSHRN: Given the Taliban’s history, especially with regards to women, do you think that the negotiations will have a positive outcome?Langar: The Afghan government, the negotiating team and the country's international allies, who also have a supervisory role to play, must recognize that the Taliban is, above all, a religious extremist group, specifically with issues such as human rights and women's rights. They do not believe in freedom of expression and democratic values. Therefore, it is naïve to believe that they will join the government while respecting democratic values. The government must defend democratic values, including freedom of expression, press, and women’s rights and discuss them with details. Otherwise, the achievements of the past two decades will be sacrificed and society will relapse to the dark era of the Taliban.CSHRN: Can the government’s negotiating team change the Taliban’s view of women?Langar: Taliban’s centuries-old petrified views will never change. Therefore, the Afghan government should speak from a position of power while making the sincere efforts to reach a peace agreement. Democratic values and women’s rights should be maintained.CSHRN: Do you think that the government negotiating team have the ability…

The fall of Taliban regime brought her and her family from abroad back to Afghanistan, hoping to live peacefully in the land where they belong. She inhabits Herat where she became a member of several literary associations from the ninth grade and joined the Faculty of Persian Literature at Herat University after graduation from school and passing the university entrance exam.Yakta Ahmadi, a young poet, said that when she and her family decided to live in Afghanistan, she never imagined facing difficulties because of her gender in her fatherland. She added that living in Afghanistan and struggling against all hardships made her fearless, and independent. She does not regret returning to Afghanistan. Ms. Ahmadi said that she has done a lot for women’s rights protection. She has tried to recount women’s problems and defend their rights in every possible means, including poetry. “Women’s conditions in Afghanistan encouraged me to put efforts for equal rights for men and women and raise awareness among women who are not aware of their rights. Though not significant, I have always tried to defend women’s rights through civic activities and poetry,” said Ms. Ahmadi. It is years since she has remigrated to another country from Afghanistan for the second time. Reckoning her challenges as a poetess, she said that her poems have often faced criticism of being outspoken and uncensored coverage of women’s issues. Nonetheless, she never allowed her poems to be censored. She believes that women’s poetry should reflect her real experience. According to her when men write about their experiences, they are never criticized. Women’s writings, on the other hand, are always censored. “I have never accepted censorship of my own poems. I am glad to be one of the first women in Herat to have written uncensored poems, read it before thousands of…