A new initiative will help ensure women are part of negotiations which is vital to ensure their long-term success, writes Quhramaana Kakar.

Afghan women play a crucial role in peace dialogues and decision-making processes at all levels. Their contribution to leadership, and the obstacles they face in pursuit of equality and stability are changing the context of Women, Peace and Security in Afghanistan.

The role of women leaders in Afghanistan has evolved significantly since the takeover of the Taliban three years ago. They face some of the world’s most visible oppression against their rights and exclusion, which some analysists have labelled gender apartheid. Yet, Afghan women have acquired new leadership roles both inside and outside the country that are often unrecognised.

Over the past three years, Afghan women have shown remarkable resilience, leadership, and dedication to building peace and an Afghan state using all available opportunities and platforms. They have been strong advocates for women rights, justice in the Afghan society, and have taken the lead in devising mechanisms for a more inclusive and just processes and decision making to help build a lasting and inclusive peace in Afghanistan. 

Nearly 25 years since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the Women, Peace and Security agenda has become even more critical in the face of oppressive regimes, rising violence and failing states. Especially considering the importance of women as key victims, leaders and active participants in conflict resolution and prevention.

Afghan women have been at the forefront of peacebuilding initiatives at the local, national, and international levels. Women in exile have been making their voices heard and insisting on their equal participation. The international community has been failing Afghan women by not addressing their strategic needs or addressing key barriers facing women’s struggle.

Afghan women have been making made significant efforts to advance their agenda for a peaceful country and their equal roles to achieve lasting peace, but their efforts have been hampered by various critical factors. The overarching patriarchal culture continues to limit their access to leadership. The socio-economic and political challenges that women face have not received the required strategic response. A lack of political will is a major factor in this regard. Nevertheless, despite these challenges many women leaders, inside and outside the country continue to fight for their space and rights. They are taking high risks to advocate for a more inclusive and just society, both inside the country and outside.

“Strategizing a Seat at the Table Initiative”

One of the most promising initiatives to address these challenges is the Strategizing a Seat at the Table Initiative, launched by Afghan women leaders over the past 18 months. This initiative aims to create a strategic pathway for meaningful engagement of Afghan women in the political process and decision-making spaces. It has been a long-awaited effort to ensure that women’s participation in peacebuilding is not a mere token gesture but a sustainable and integral part of any peace process.

This initiative underscores the need for political inclusion at all levels and stresses that women’s leadership must be part of any long-term solution for peace in Afghanistan. In these conversations, Afghan women leaders have focused on advocating for spaces where women’s voices are heard, and their contributions are valued through their full and meaningful participation. While these conversations have been challenging, they represent a critical step toward ensuring that Afghan women are not sidelined in the search for peace and creating an inclusive society.

The role of the international community

The international community has an essential role to play in supporting Afghan women’s efforts. For true change to occur, international support must align with the needs and priorities set by Afghan women themselves, not just donor-driven agendas. The current context in Afghanistan is fluid, and international engagement must be flexible, long-term and responsive to changing dynamics.

To be truly effective, support should shift from short-term, project-based interventions to long-term, process-based assistance. These female leaders, peacebuilders, and negotiators from around the globe have made it clear that peacebuilding is a continuous process that requires patience, consistency, and long-term commitment. The international community must be willing to invest in these and align its political priorities with the needs of the people and peace.

The challenges facing Afghan women in their pursuit of peace and leadership are great, but their role in shaping Afghanistan’s future cannot be overstated. Afghan women have proven time and again that they are not just victims of conflict but active participants in peacebuilding and governance. As the socio-economic and political landscape of Afghanistan continues to evolve, it is necessary that the international community increases its support to Afghan women in all spaces and ensure their voices and their true participation is central to peace and decision-making processes concerning Afghanistan.

The Strategizing a Seat at the Table Initiative represents an important step toward achieving this goal. It is an effort to ensure that Afghan women are not left behind in the search for peace and that their contributions are recognised as integral to building a just, inclusive, and lasting peace in Afghanistan.