Afghan Women’s Rights Remain on the Periphery of Talks with Taliban

This week, Norway convened Taliban leaders, diplomats primarily from Western countries, and other delegates for three days of talks on humanitarian aid and human rights in Afghanistan. Disappointed at how Afghan women were marginalized at the talks, the Women’s Refugee Commission joined three organizations calling on the US government to prioritize the lives, safety, and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls. We urge the U.S. and its international partners to ensure humanitarian aid is distributed in line with humanitarian principles and international obligations, including meeting the needs of women, girls, and others vulnerable and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the current crisis. And we urgently call upon the international community to engage a diversity of Afghan women leaders as partners and peers and demand their full, equal, and meaningful participation in any and all future talks on Afghanistan.