The Situation of Women in Afghanistan: 2014 and Beyond

The implementation of the UN's Women, Peace and Security agenda on the ground is in many respects lagging far behind its ambitious conceptual framework. Case in point is the situation of women in Afghanistan which remains highly insecure, and many fear, will only become more difficult with the coming international military drawdown in 2014. On the protection side, attacks, intimidation, and sexual violence against women and girls—including abduction, rape, and trafficking—are widespread. On the participation side, the representation and active involvement of women in political processes remain limited. There is moreover an acute risk that women will effectively be excluded from peace talks with the Taliban, with the result that the fragile rights women have gained in Afghanistan since 2002 will be negotiated away in a formal peace process in which they have no substantive voice. With more than a decade of experience confronting these challenges on the ground, Manizha Naderi, Executive Director of Women for Afghan Women, will offer her thoughts on the potential impacts of the troop drawdown and negotiations with the Taliban for women in Afghanistan, and the importance of civil society groups such as Women for Afghan Women in protecting women on a day-to-day basis.

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