Convening of the Inaugural Day of the Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan
Convening of the Inaugural Day of the Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan

The inaugural day of the Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan, which commenced today, Sunday, June 30, was marked by the absence of Afghan civil society representatives and women’s rights activists. Instead, it saw the participation of the Taliban delegation and representatives from over 25 countries gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha, starting at 7:45 PM Kabul time.

Some women have boycotted the Third Doha Meeting and in response to this gathering, they assert that the world should not abandon Afghan women. They argue that any form of agreement with the Taliban under the guise of negotiation amounts to overt engagement and dealings with them.

Habiba Sarabi, a member of the former government peace negotiation team, who abstained from participating in this conference, stated that the United Nations failed to ensure meaningful and full participation of women in the Third Doha Meeting.

Ms. Sarabi wrote on her X social media page that the United Nations has so far been unable to implement Security Council Resolution 2721 to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan, and there must be equal and meaningful participation of women in all processes related to this country.

Habiba Sarabi, a member of the former government’s negotiation team, Nabeela Musleh, a former government’s Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister, and Zubaida Akbari, a women’s rights activist, had been invited by the United Nations to attend the Third Doha Meeting, but these women have refrained from participating.

The Third Doha Meeting is taking place without the presence of women, in contrast to the first round of the Doha Meeting, which was held in May 2023 with the participation of special representatives from countries involved in Afghan affairs, and without inviting Taliban representatives.

In the second round of the Doha Meeting, the Taliban delegation was invited, but the Taliban did not accept this invitation and insisted that only they should participate on behalf of Afghanistan in this meeting.

It remains to be seen what outcomes the discussions in the Third Doha Meeting will have on the fate of the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls.

  • نویسنده : Afghanistan Women News Agency
  • منبع خبر : Afghanistan Women News Agency