Two days of UN-organized talks on the situation in Afghanistan began in Doha on Sunday, marking the first time the Taliban was present. The decision to exclude women’s rights groups from these meetings has sparked widespread condemnation among human rights activists who are concerned about the implications of considering the Taliban as the representatives of Afghanistan, despite their lack of international recognition.
Earlier this year, the Taliban refused to attend a similar UN-organized conference, making their participation in the current talks a notable shift. However, their previous demand to be recognized as the exclusive representative of Afghanistan was rejected by the UN Secretary-General, who termed it “unacceptable.” Additionally, the Taliban have consistently opposed the appointment of a UN special envoy to Afghanistan, which remains a contentious issue.
The government of Canada has expressed strong disappointment over the exclusion of non-Taliban Afghan participants, including women’s advocates, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights groups. Canada is calling for the UN to appoint a Special Envoy with extensive expertise in human and gender rights to spearhead the implementation of the roadmap outlined in the UN Special Coordinator’s 2023 report and the UN Security Council Resolution 2721.
UN Deputy Chief Rosemary DiCarlo, leading the Doha meeting, expressed her satisfaction with the Taliban’s engagement. Meanwhile, a coalition of human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, urged the UN to ensure the participation of women and to place women’s rights as a permanent agenda item in future discussions.
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