DFID helps Afghan women to be heard at London Conference

05 February 2010

Women must share decision-making and equal rights in Afghanistan, according to leading activists helped by DFID and the FCO at last week’s London Conference.

The women - from Afghan civil society and women’s rights groups - said stability, security and economic growth must involve women at both local and national level.

DFID, with support from the FCO colleagues in Kabul and London, helped bring the group to London where they took part in a number of non-governmental events, including the Civil Society Conference on January 28.

Five Afghan women also attended a pre-conference Prince of Wales reception, where they met Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, alongside other foreign ministers and NATO officials.

Mrs Clinton led a round of applause for the women during her press conference and invited them to meet her to talk more on women’s issues in Afghanistan.

During the conference itself, the group delivered a statement of four key messages – read by the only official Afghan woman present, Arezo Qanih - aimed at protecting and expanding the role of women in the country’s future.

Among them, the women highlighted economic development and long-term reconstruction as vital alongside military efforts in Afghanistan.

Founder of Afghan Women’s Skills Development organization, Mary Akrami, said: "We want peace and security with justice and the involvement of women. If there is a peace jirga or talks at a regional level, we want women’s participation.

"We want no compromises on the constitution and women’s rights.”

DFID supports job creation schemes such as the Microfinance Investment and Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) – where women account for 60% of more than 400,000 people to benefit from small business loans - and the Supporting Employment and Enterprise Development (SEED).

At the main press conference the women were given a firm assurance from Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Afghan government advisor Dr Rangin Spanta and UN special representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, that any reconciliation with the Taliban means working within the guarantee of women’s rights and equal participation laid down in the Afghan Constitution.