A gathering of women’s rights advocates, human rights defenders, and international representatives in Madrid have urged the international community and Afghanistan’s allies to take urgent steps to address the growing human rights crisis under Taliban rule.
Organized by Women for Afghanistan (WFA), the summit gathered leaders and advocates on December 13 to call for urgent action to address the dire situation faced by Afghan women and marginalized groups.
The event emphasized the crucial need for women’s active participation in shaping Afghanistan’s future and underscored the importance of international solidarity in this cause.
The participants at the summit called on Afghan women to continue advocating for their rights, despite the challenges they face under the Taliban regime. “Political, social, and other differences within any society should be seen as expressions of diverse perspectives, not as obstacles undermining our shared cause and common collective struggle,” the declaration stated.
Additionally, the declaration called for male allies from across Afghanistan’s political, social, and business sectors to engage in constructive dialogue with women to build a collective political agenda for the country’s future.
“We must work together to create an inclusive political manifesto for Afghanistan,” the declaration said.
The summit participants also urged the international community to ensure the equal participation of women and marginalized groups in all processes that will shape Afghanistan’s future.
They said the a need for women-led engagement processes to guarantee Afghan women’s full representation in all international discussions, including those within the UN-led Doha process.
“These processes must support decision-making efforts with the meaningful participation of women,” the declaration stated.
The summit underscored the international community’s responsibility to hold the Taliban accountable for ongoing human rights violations.
The declaration called for the use of international legal mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prosecute Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity.
The participants also called for the recognition of gender apartheid as a “Crime Against Humanity” and urged the global community to include it in international law to address the systematic oppression of Afghan women.
In addition, the summit outlined urgent steps to strengthen humanitarian and economic support for Afghan women. The declaration urged governments and multilateral organizations to ensure women’s leadership in the distribution of aid and to promote transparency by supporting local women-led organizations.
It also emphasized the importance of investing in initiatives such as digital literacy, scholarships, and entrepreneurship development as crucial tools for empowering Afghan women economically and fostering resilience in the face of adversity.
The summit concluded with immediate action priorities for both Afghan women and the international community.
The Afghan women’s summit held in Albania from September 11-13 resolved to draft a political manifesto to shape Afghanistan’s future.
