A Roadmap to Afghanistan, February 2007

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Purpose
The future of Afghanistan depends upon recognizing and enhancing the critical role women play in securing their country and building a new democracy. Despite progress over the last five years, Afghan women continue to face significant obstacles to fully participating in reconstruction. In an effort to reverse this trend, from Feb. 24 to March 2, The Initiative for Inclusive Security and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) invited 13 distinguished Afghan women leaders in government and civil society for a weeklong workshop, Inclusive Security: A Roadmap for Afghanistan.

This unprecedented workshop convening Afghan women leaders and high-level NATO civilian and military personnel reinforced the importance of including Afghan women at every level of the political and rebuilding process. In an effort to develop a new working partnership, the Afghan delegation met with senior NATO officials, including Secretary-General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and US Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland with whom they shared important recommendations for reconstruction.

This program was led in part by Ambassador Swanee Hunt, chair, The Initiative for Inclusive Security, and Dr. Stefanie Babst, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Communications Coordination, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO. 

Furthermore, MEP Veronique de Keyser and the Women’s Rights Commission of the European Parliament welcomed the delegation and Ambassador Hunt for a press conference and public hearing at the European Parliament where they outlined specific ways women can help consolidate peace and lead reconstruction.

Consultation
Over the course of the weeklong workshop, the Afghan delegation had the exclusive opportunity to meet with and present their recommendations to experts from NATO, the European Union, Amnesty International, and Crisis Group.

Afghan women have been part of Inclusive Security’s Women Waging Peace Network since its creation in 1999. Inclusive Security’s team of experts led consultations in Kabul in 2005 and 2006 where they convened diverse groups of leaders to analyze the role of women in reconstruction and formulate an agenda to enhance women’s participation in stabilizing Afghanistan. This workshop in Brussels continued Inclusive Security’s commitment to work with this unprecedented coalition of Afghan women leaders to deliver their agenda to key policymakers and donors around the world. 

Next Steps
After attending a reception hosted by MEP Ana Gomes and members of the Brussels chapter of Women in International Security (WIIS), the 13 participants agreed to form their own WIIS chapter in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the delegation formed a coalition to continue the important work that started as a result of the workshop in Brussels by meeting with policymakers in Afghanistan and releasing a monthly newsletter titled “Inclusive Security: Women’s Perspective from Across Afghanistan.”

Inclusive Security will send another team of experts to Kabul in 2007 to meet with these and other Afghan women leaders. This visit will continue their commitment to work with this coalition of leaders to deliver their agenda to policymakers in Afghanistan and the international community. 

Press Releases & Media Coverage
Women Leaders from Afghanistan Team Up with NATO and EP
February 22, 2007

A news link to the Afghan delegation speaking to the FEMM committee in the European Parliament:
Click here for text.
Click here for video.

Resources
Use our directory of women peace experts to find other women peace experts from Afghanistan.