Request Letter of Afghan Women's Network and Women's Coalition for Peace "Our Voice, For Our Future"
In connection with women's participation in the implementation of the political agreement

Serial No: 127

Date: May 31, 2020

Kabul, Afghanistan

His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council
While we complain about the lack of women participation in the signing ceremony of the political agreement and peace consultative meetings, we still consider the signing of the political agreement to resolve the crisis resulting from the election results as a political solution.

Women in Afghanistan have proven their commitment to leadership, decision-making, and participation in the political, social, cultural, and economic spheres during various periods, especially during the period of national unity with their excellent and professional capacities, they can play an active role in governance and decision-making levels and play a significant role in the development of the country.

Yet, despite all these national and international efforts and commitments, women are still marginalized and must always fight for their basic rights.

We now have countless professional women with knowledge and expertise and management throughout Afghanistan, who are according to the principle of meritocracy and giving work to the worthy people, the government's commitments based on political participation and women's leadership must be implemented at the leadership level.

We, the women, urge you to prioritize women's participation in leadership and decision-making in order to contribute to women's meaningful participation and contribution through  assigning of women and others at decision-making levels, and avoid the political, partisan, and political parties  pressures and interests.

We, in support of women's legal and legitimate rights, as well as an understanding of the human rights situation of women in Afghanistan, we call for greater participation of women at the leadership and decision-making levels.

Our emphasis on women's active participation and presence is based on the following political Agreement:

• Government Supreme Council The presence of two political and national women figures in the Government Supreme Council

1. Chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council

• At least two deputies to the presidency of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council must be women.
• The participation of women representatives from different sectors (political, economic, religious, cultural, judiciary, civil society, media, the disabled and victims of war and minorities) from Kabul and the provinces is required in the Leadership Committee and the General Assembly of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council.
• The number of women on the negotiating board should increase from five to at least nine with the increase from civil society, media, youth and war victims.

1. Appreciation from leadership of previous  peace process

• We women are happy, as the leadership of the High Peace Council is being honored. We want the women who were included in the leadership and decision-making process of the peace process, and who have made great efforts despite the lack of political support and difficult conditions should be honored.

1. Participate in government

• It is strongly requested that in appointing individuals and  nominees as cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, ambassadors, governors and deputy governors,   independent departments and their deputies, key judicial and judicial positions, ... the equal right of women to participation on the basis of  considering the Constitution and other national and international obligations and consider them very certain.
• According to the constitution, women's quotas in the cabinet must be met, and if a woman does not get vote from the National Assembly, another woman must be re-elected.
• We again want the government to introduce one of the prominent women as a member of the Supreme Council of the Supreme Court.
• The number of female members of the lower house who do not attend their duties due to problems and reasons is requested from the President to appoint only other women based on the lists received for these seats.

1. Reforms

• Electoral reforms should be carried out before the National Assembly elections in Ghazni province, provincial and district councils, and municipal elections.
• During the National Assembly elections preparation in Ghazni province, the provincial council elections and the district council elections, possible legal security and social facilities in the provinces and districts for the wide participation of women as candidates and voters should be proposed and implemented.
• In the municipal elections, in order to prevent gender discrimination and to find qualified women, a monitoring .committee should be formed with the participation of the representative of the civil society.
• The presence of women's representatives in the drafting and amendment of the constitution is necessary
• Electoral reforms should be carried out in the presence of women's representatives in technical committees and in consultation with civil society organizations that have worked professionally   in the electoral sector.
• In order to facilitate the administration and demand of women, third units of the Ministry of Women's Affairs should be established and strengthened in the districts.

1. Monitoring and Collation Mechanism

• It is required that at least two members of the monitoring committee and mediation  be women from of civil society.
• According to the law, we want membership of women and civil society in monitoring and mediation technical team.

Observance of the principle consultation and of national participation

In order to introduce qualified women, we strongly request the government to consult with women's organizations and allow women to introduce their representatives to the decent and key positions of government and the Supreme National Reconciliation Council, based on the principle of experience, knowledge and expertise.

Afghan Women's Network, as the largest umbrella of coordination and advocacy of women in Afghanistan with more than 25 years of honest and impartial activity, is committed in arranging and making available a list of specialized, committed and skilled women from the capital and provinces, and as always cooperate in introducing qualified and specialized women.