Germany in the UN’s Post

In a blog published by Amnesty International USA, I wrote "Afghan human rights defenders, including women, within the country & in exile, repeatedly warned against the current trend of increased engagement w/ #Taliban, citing a lack of strategic vision & meaningful inclusion of Afghans" "States and the international community must send a clear, coordinated & resounding message to the Taliban that intensifying its system of oppression and attempts to erase women will never be accepted" "Due to its 20 years of stated commitment to advancing women’s and other human rights in #Afghanistan and its obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights, the U.S. bears a responsibility to take a proactive role in addressing the situation." "U.S. should support the creation of a new UN-mandated accountability mechanism by the Human Rights Council, work through the UN Security Council to impose targeted sanctions or travel bans on Taliban leaders" and that "While humanitarian aid and diplomatic dialogue are essential, they must not come at the expense of human rights. The rights and well-being of the Afghan population and especially women should be at the forefront of any U.S. strategy" U.S.: Help Center Human Rights, including Women’s Rights, in Discussions and Decisions About Afghanistan

Advancing women’s rights in Afghanistan requires a strategic shift. This article highlights how regional collaboration with Central Asian neighbors, local empowerment, and cultural sensitivity can drive meaningful progress. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4uvc7uF #WomensRights #Afghanistan #RegionalCollaboration #WomensEmpowerment #GrassrootsChange

--- “The lack of a strong, cohesive response from the international community has already emboldened the Taliban” --- In an article published by Scoop Independent News Monday this week, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett’s statement given to the UN General assembly on November 1st, has been revised. In his latest report on Afghanistan to the UN General Assembly, Bennett has described a worsening human rights situation overall, which has largely been created by the Taliban, which includes systematic gender oppression that amounts to gender persecution, and which many Afghans rightfully term “gender apartheid”. With regard to this rapport, Bennett, on November 1st, both criticized the international community’s weak response to the situation in Afghanistan, and encouraged the international community to simply do more. Bennett criticized the international community and said that “The lack of a strong, cohesive response from the International community has already emboldened the Taliban”. Additionally he stated that “The international community needs to devise, adopt and implement a comprehensive, human rights-centered action plan.” in regards to Afghanistan.  He also urged the international community to both take an “all tools approach”, that includes practical actions by States to support the people of Afghanistan, and to not normalize relations with the Taliban until there are demonstrable human rights improvements and pathways to justice and accountability. Read the full article here:  https://lnkd.in/d2d8rpQT #EmpowermentForHer #AfghanWomen_in_21st_Century #SpecialRapporteur #RichardBennett #Genderapartheid #InternationalCommunity 

It is crucial understand how to do “patriarchal bargaining” to navigate the patriarchal practices that block women’s rights in Afghanistan. Read more in this GO article ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eCYFnFWh

As we mark International Women’s Day today, the world must confront a haunting question: why does it keep on failing the women and girls in Afghanistan? Let today be a reminder that the strong women of Aghanistan continue to persevere against the Taliban’s oppressive regime and fight for their rights. Let their resilience serve as a call to action for the international community to reevaluate its commitment to protecting the rights of Afghan women and girls. “The time for diplomatic rhetoric is over – now is the time for decisive and collective action to preserve the hard-won rights of Afghan women and girls. In failing to act decisively, the world risks witnessing the normalization of this remorseless dismantling of women’s rights in Afghanistan,” I write for The Diplomat. #iwd2024 #afghanwomen #womensrightsarehumanrights #womensrights #afghanistan #oped #opinionpiece #amnestyinternational #humanrights #humanrightsdefenders #internationalwomensday

Postcard from the UN Security Council It's UN day here in New York and the annual Open Debate on Women Peace and Security got underway today marking the 24th anniversary since it's adoption on October 31, 2000. We welcome the call from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at recognising and reaffirming the diversity of #mediationactors as she a announced the launch of Common Pledge on Women's Participation in Peace Processes to enhance women’s participation in peace processes. The Common Pledge calls on member states and regional inter-governmental organisations including Pacific Islands Forum (and other CROP agencies) to also reaffirm both the role of #regional #womenled Mediator Networks and the urgent need to remove the barriers to agency, rights and inclusion. This is critical timing as the Forum Secretariat supports the PIF Troika heading to #Kanaky in the coming days. The Pledge is a vital move. It has listened to women mediators and our networks as we called for the need for peacebuilding, peacemaking and mediation processes to be opened up in order to ensure peace processes result in genuine and sustainable gender transformative peace. This can be achieved when all parties ensure gender expertise is embedded into planning and women mediators equitably included in all #peacebuilding missions. It is also about ensuring consultation with a broad range of women in civil society that continues throughout the peace processes. France as a permanent member of the UN Security Council also reaffirmed the Common Pledge in its statement to the Council today reaffirming the need for greater spaces for women mediators in peace processes and compliance with international rule of law and humanitarian law. In line with our Pacific Women Mediators Network Open Letter ahead of the Open Debate the statement delivered by FemWISE the Common Pledge, regional women mediator networks bring the expertise and ability to: - Co-ordinate and mobilize support for women’s meaningful participation in peace processes - Enhance legitimacy to the valuable work women are doing in informal settings - Cultivate mentorship for young women mediators - Monitor the implementation of the WPS agenda through feminist mechanisms and - Fostering communication with civil society Read our July brief: https://lnkd.in/gYuth6Wp - Veena Singh Noelene Nabulivou maureen penjueli Frances Namoumou Florence Swamy Adi Litia Nailatikau

Today (24 May) is ☮International Women's Day for Peace & Disarmament☮! > Marking decades of feminist action for disarmament that led to the Beijing Platform of Action, WPS Agenda, and key disarmament treaties (ATT, TPNW). Today is the day to continue to call for disarmament, in a world that's becoming increasingly insecure and unstable, with military spending at an all time high. Disarmament is a catalyst for #peace and #security! Today is the day to call even louder for cease fire in #Palestine, #Sudan, #Yemen, and too many other conflict areas around the world. And for those of you in the EU, today is the day to orient yourself to vote for peace & security in the next European Elections on June 6th: https://lnkd.in/ecbyAsPf More here: https://lnkd.in/ev38hemY PAX for peace / WO=MEN, Dutch Gender Platform / Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - WILPF

Read Hafizullah Saeedi's insightful piece on the critical need to prioritize women and human rights issues in Afghanistan. Shockingly, the Doha discussions focus on business and counter-narcotics policy, excluding women and human rights defenders at the Taliban's request. This undermines UN principles and human rights standards. #HumanRights https://lnkd.in/gFaYsuqT

The increasing call and efforts to have a gendered lens to #peacebuilding and #disarmament is fundamental as we honour women’s immense contributions today - on International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament. No matter where you come from, women play an important role in policy discussions, creating awareness and empowering females towards participating in peacebuilding efforts. At the same time, we all must also remember that peacebuilding and disarmament actions must factor in #intersectional and #decolonial perspectives because no one size fits all - and that's something easier said than done. UN Women Asia and the Pacific #DEI #gps #womenpeacesecurity

"The role of MAWPS is three-fold: first, to strengthen the capacity and security of women peacebuilders; second, to enlarge the network of global institutions committed to the WPS agenda; and third, to open doors in the corridors of power for women to bring their ground truth, talents, and unique insights.” In a recent article, Ambassador Donald Steinberg, Executive Director of Mobilizing Men as Partners for Women, Peace and Security (MAWPS), speaks about the initiative and the ways in which male allies can advocate for the full and meaningful participation of women in international peace and security structures. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dQv8Rmy7