Faik: No Credible Afghan Settlement Possible Without Women’s Participation
Nasir Ahmad Faik, the acting head of Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has said that without the participation of half of Afghanistan’s population in the political process, no credible settlement will emerge in the country.
On Tuesday, September 31, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, he spoke at an event titled “Women, Peace, Justice and National Reconciliation in Afghanistan” and stressed that women’s presence must be direct, meaningful and at the heart of Afghanistan’s political process.
Faik said Afghan women are not only victims of the current situation, but also political stakeholders and leaders of the country. He also added that without justice and accountability, achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will not be possible.
According to him, Afghanistan’s fate must ultimately be decided by its own people. Faik further stressed that the Taliban administration is not Afghanistan’s only stakeholder and cannot alone reflect the diversity and demands of the country’s people.
The remarks come as the exclusion of women from public life and decision-making structures has been one of the main criticisms of the Taliban administration’s performance in Afghanistan. The UN General Assembly is held every year in New York, with senior officials from countries attending the gathering at the organization’s headquarters.
