Shahmama convened the international policy conference “Pathways to Justice and Human Rights for Women in Afghanistan” with the support of 11 co-sponsoring states, the European Union, and UN Women. The conference brought together representatives of governments, Permanent Missions, UN agencies, international organizations, Afghan women, civil society organizations, and human rights experts to examine the worsening situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and to strengthen international efforts toward justice, accountability, protection, and inclusion.
The conference was co-sponsored by Permanent Missions of Canada, Switzerland, Afghanistan, France, Liechtenstein, the European Union, the Netherlands, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Finland, Belgium, and UN Women.
The event took place amid the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan and at a time when reports of widespread arbitrary arrests and detentions of women and girls in Herat and parts of Kabul have raised serious concerns among Afghan women, human rights defenders, and the international community.
In her welcoming remarks, Executive Director of Shahmama, underscored the importance of maintaining international attention on the situation of Afghan women and ensuring that their voices remain at the center of all discussions concerning Afghanistan’s future. She emphasized that the conference served as a reaffirmation that the systematic exclusion of women from public life can never be normalized or accepted as a new reality.
Opening remarks and keynote speech were delivered by Ms. Patricia McCullagh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Ms. Régine Gachoud, Head of the Human Rights Diplomacy Section at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA); Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the United Nations in Geneva; Ms. Anna-Mari Wong Hämäläinen, Deputy Representative of Finland to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Ms. Sofia Calltorp, Director of the Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action at UN Women and Mr. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan.
The speakers reaffirmed their commitment to the rights of Afghan women and girls and stressed the importance of accountability and meaningful participation of women in all discussions concerning Afghanistan.
In his keynote address, Richard Bennett highlighted the continued erosion of women’s rights and emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to accountability through international legal, political, and human rights mechanisms.
A dedicated policy panel brought together Afghan women leaders, human rights advocates, researchers, and a survivor of the Kaaj Educational Centre attack to share their experiences and policy recommendations.The panel provided a platform for Afghan women to directly engage the international community and highlight the realities facing women.
Participants stressed that there can be no sustainable peace, stability, or legitimate future for Afghanistan without the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women.
Key recommendations emerging from the conference included accelerating the operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, strengthening international accountability efforts, ensuring the meaningful participation of Afghan women in all discussions and decision-making processes concerning Afghanistan’s future, and expanding support for Afghan women-led organizations and initiatives.
A clear message emerged throughout the conference: Afghan women are not passive victims of oppression. They continue to lead, advocate, organize, and resist despite extraordinary challenges. Their voices, experiences, and leadership must remain central to all efforts aimed at shaping Afghanistan’s future.
The conference concluded with remarks by Ambassador Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, who reaffirmed the importance of continued international engagement and support for Afghan women and girls.
Shahmama Organization extends its sincere gratitude to all co-sponsoring states, partner organizations, distinguished speakers, and participants for their solidarity and continued commitment to advancing the rights, dignity, and equality of Afghan women and girls.
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