Canada is urging the United Nations to include women in upcoming talks with the Taliban that could potentially recognize the terrorist group as the government of Afghanistan. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres will be meeting with Taliban officials in Qatar next week to find a “durable way forward” for Afghanistan. This comes as Guterres’ deputy, Amina Mohammed, suggested that the UN was considering recognizing the Taliban as the government. No country has yet endorsed this recognition, but Canada has been in talks with the group to address humanitarian crises.
Canada’s ambassador for women, peace, and security, Jacqueline O’Neill, has called for women to be at the table during the talks. In a tweet, she emphasized that Afghan women must be equal partners in the decision-making process about the future of their country. The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security also wrote a letter to Guterres warning that not having female leaders and human rights defenders at the meeting could set a dangerous precedent.
The Taliban has been criticized for their increasingly harsh restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, including a ban on Afghan women working for the UN. A draft resolution was discussed by members of the UN Security Council that calls on the Taliban to reverse these restrictions and reaffirms the importance of women’s participation in Afghan society. The resolution also urges other UN member nations to use their influence to promote a reversal of the Taliban’s policies towards women and girls.
As the UN considers recognition of the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, Canada’s call to include women in the talks is crucial. Women’s participation is necessary for the future of the country and for ensuring that their voices are heard in any decision-making process. The draft resolution is a clear indication of the UN’s concern for women’s rights in Afghanistan, and it is imperative that the Taliban take the necessary steps to ensure women’s participation and protection.