The upcoming United Nations “Doha 3” meeting on Afghanistan, scheduled for June 30 to July 1, is causing significant concern. Afghan women, already suffering severe abuses under the Taliban, are being excluded from these crucial discussions. This exclusion deepens their disappointment with the UN’s response since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.
Daily, the Taliban violate the rights of Afghan women and girls. They are denied the ability to study, work, seek healthcare, escape violence, and even walk freely. Many Afghan women hoped the UN would hold the Taliban accountable for these crimes, but the UN’s responses have been ineffective.
In an effort to ensure Taliban attendance, the UN has crafted an agenda for the Doha 3 meeting that excludes human rights discussions. Additionally, Afghan women are not included in the main meetings. This exclusion is particularly troubling given that those most impacted by Taliban abuses are sidelined from discussing their fate. It also violates UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which mandates women’s full participation in peace and security discussions.
Afghan women activists, both in the country and the diaspora, have called for a boycott of Doha 3. They know the Taliban will not meet with Afghan women, making the meeting’s outcomes questionable.
Women and girls in Afghanistan are already burdened with fighting against systematic repression. They should not have to remind the UN of its obligations under Resolution 1325. The UN should listen to diverse Afghan women and ensure their full, meaningful, and safe participation in all discussions about Afghanistan’s future.
If the Doha 3 meeting proceeds as planned, the UN will set a harmful precedent. It will betray Afghan women’s struggle for their rights and damage the UN’s credibility. The UN’s effort to appease the Taliban at the expense of human rights and women’s participation is deeply concerning and could cause lasting harm to its reputation.
