OXFAM Briefing Paper
‘Women want peace but not at the cost of losing our freedom again.’
Noorjahan Akbar, co-founder of Young Women for Change
Women in Afghanistan have achieved real progress in areas such as political participation, the rule of law, and education since 2001,
but these hard-won gains remain fragile. With the imminent withdrawal of international forces, there is a risk that the government may sacrifice women’s rights in order to secure a political deal with the Taliban and other armed opposition groups.
The government and its international partners must do much more to support Afghan women’s efforts and uphold their rights while
ensuring that women have a strong voice in any future negotiations and political settlements.
