Press conference by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. The Under-Secretary-General will be speaking following the Third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan.

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UN-led efforts to push for a more peaceful and inclusive future for Afghanistan in which women and girls play an equal role continued on Monday at international talks in Doha, which for the first time included the de facto Taliban authorities.

Emerging from discussions in the Qatari capital, which is hosting the Third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan, top UN negotiator Rosemary DiCarlo told journalists today (01 Jul) that both she and the national and regional representatives taking part raised the issue of women’s and girls’ rights.

DiCarlo said, “Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold or fully develop economically and socially if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population.”

The Under-Secretary-General reiterated, “The concerns and views of Afghan women in civil society are front and centre. For the United Nations, the meaningful inclusion of women in political and peace processes is a guiding principle.”

Since the de facto authorities seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls have faced systemic discrimination, including a ban on girls’ education. That ban is “heartbreaking”, DiCarlo maintained, before explaining that the UN-led process of international re-engagement with the country’s de facto leaders involves a “step-for-step” approach, in line with Security Council resolution 2679, and an independent review on an integrated and coherent approach by UN Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioğlu.

She said, “We would hope that engagement and discussions would indeed move things forward in a way that Afghanistan becomes a more open, inclusive society, both in terms of governance and even civil participation. We would hope that would be the case.”

The Under-Secretary-General concluded, “All I can say is that I think the meeting was, by in large, productive. And I think we have a way forward for continued engagement and we will do so. And we certainly are not going to decrease in any way our involvement with women, civil society, minority groups on the ground.”

DiCarlo and the Special Envoys are set to meet with representatives of Afghan civil society, including women’s groups and human rights organizations. She will speak to the press again on Tuesday (2 Jul).