UN committee seeks women’s rights in peace deal with Taliban

NEW YORK - Any deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban must also include a comprehensive and clear pledge to protect women’s human rights in the war tattered country, a United Nations (UN) committee has said.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), expressed serious concerns over the absence of ‘clear strategies’ regarding women protection during negotiations with the Taliban.

It may be noted that the Taliban had put severe restrictions on Afghan women during its regime in the country before being thrown out in 2001.

The extremists had also banned girls from going receiving education and women from venturing out of their home without their male companion.

The committee also urged the Karzai government to ensure that “women representatives are included in the upcoming peace and development dialogues and negotiations with the Taliban.”

“Afghan women, who constitute the majority of the Afghan population, must be full and equal participants in decision-making, at all levels, in the process of peace-building, reconciliation, reconstruction and development of their country,” The Nation quoted a statement issued by the committee, as saying.

“Their voices and views, as well as capacities, are fundamental and necessary for the sustainable establishment of a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan, based on the rule of law, democracy, justice, human rights and gender equality,” the statement added. (ANI)