Afghanistan Peace CampaignWritten By: Najeebullah Rahmati, Phd Scholar, EFL University
Spain will host the third “Hear Our Voice” conference on Afghanistan’s women’s rights in Madrid on December, focusing on justice and accountability.
The third conference on Afghan women, titled “Hear Our Voices,” will be held on December 12 in Madrid. Hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the European Union and the Afghanistan Women’s Organization, this significant event aims to address the ongoing crisis facing Afghan women and girls under the Taliban regime. The conference will bring together global leaders, human rights advocates, and experts to discuss ways to create an actionable roadmap for justice and accountability.
This year’s conference will focus on using “all tools for justice and accountability,” particularly through international legal mechanisms, to ensure that Afghanistan women and girls receive long-term protection of their human rights. The goal is to develop a practical framework that emphasizes gender equality and safeguards against the oppressive measures imposed by the Taliban. With the participation of the Spanish Foreign Minister, activists, international leaders, and ambassadors from various countries, the conference aims to create a united front to defend women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The “Hear Our Voices” conference is not the first of its kind. The first session, held in Albania last year, gathered Afghan women, human rights defenders, and international representatives to discuss the dire situation in Afghanistan. Following this, the second conference in Madrid in December last year, focused on condemning the Taliban’s restrictive policies, particularly those that ban girls from attending school and limit women’s participation in public life. During both meetings, attendees called for the immediate repeal of decrees that infringe upon basic rights, with a strong emphasis on accountability for the Taliban’s actions.
Building on the momentum of these previous conferences, this third event aims to produce a comprehensive roadmap for justice. The anticipated outcome is a detailed action plan that outlines concrete steps for the international community to take in response to the Taliban’s violations of women’s rights. This includes utilizing international legal frameworks and humanitarian channels to ensure Afghan women’s voices are not silenced in the face of continued oppression.
The series of conferences on Afghan women’s rights highlights the international community’s commitment to addressing the crisis in Afghanistan. The collaboration between governments, international organizations, and grassroots activists provides a powerful platform to advocate for change. As the world continues to focus on the plight of Afghan women, it is essential to push for the protection of their fundamental rights and ensure the accountability of those responsible for their suffering.
The “Hear Our Voices” conference represents hope and solidarity, offering a chance for Afghan women to have their stories heard on a global stage. By uniting in the fight for justice, we can work toward a future where Afghanistan women and girls are free from oppression and can fully participate in society.
In Afghanistan, women are denied access to education beyond sixth grade, with Taliban policies banning girls from secondary schools and universities, further restricting their opportunities for personal and professional growth.