Behind Closed Doors: The risk of denying women a voice in determining Afghanistan’s future

Overview

Women’s rights have been held up as one of the most tangible gains of the international intervention in Afghanistan. Yet, despite 13 years of promises from the international community that women’s rights are a high priority, these gains remain fragile and are at an increasing risk of erosion.

Behind Closed Doors looks back over the timeline of past peace negotiations, and analyzes the victories and defeats for women’s rights since 2001. Thirteen years on, Afghan women fear a rollback of their rights in a political climate that is full of uncertainties.

With the West partly disengaging from Afghanistan and peace talks with the Taliban expected to gain momentum, the international community and the new Afghan government must stand by their promises and include women fully in negotiations on the future of Afghanistan.