Herat women start campaign for role in peace talks

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): The Afghan Women Network (AWN) on Thursday launched a campaign in western Herat province to push for women’s participation in the peace process.

The campaigners said their aim was to ensure women’s role in the peace negotiations.

Halima Salimi, AWN director in Herat, told Pajhwok Afghan News that women through the campaign would could raise their voice and demands with regard to the peace talks.

She termed women’s say in the ongoing peace talks as crucial and said: “The peace talks are to build trust between the warring sides (the Taliban and the Afghan government), thus the Afghan women want to play their real in breaking the impasse.”

She added women were the real victims of the ongoing conflict and their demand was countrywide ceasefire. She urged declaration of truce before peace talks.

Meanwhile, a number of civil society activists said the peace campaign was important.

Fatima Farahi, a civil society activist, said: “My demand from the Taliban militants is to stop violence and announce a truce with the Afghan government.”

Asanat, another activist, said the drive would motivate women to take part in the peace process. She said such efforts could help women get further awareness about the peace process.

Sakina Hussaini, a member of the provincial council, criticized women’s low participation in the peace talks, said: “I urge all the warning parties not to target civilians for reaching their personal interests.”

pk/ma