Is the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda Still Relevant for Afghanistan?

Author: Gaisu Yari

This policy brief looks at the progress and setbacks of women’s rights in Afghanistan and the different approaches and interventions under the WPS Agenda. It first provides a comprehensive analysis of gains made from 2001 to 2021, followed by the Taliban’s policies over the past three years and their devastating impact on women’s rights and participation. It then evaluates the application and limitations of the WPS Agenda in Afghanistan, identifying the exclusion of Afghan women from peace processes, increasing restrictions on their rights, and inconsistent and often inadequate international engagement as critical challenges. Finally, this brief provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, member states, and stakeholders, integrating lessons from experiences in other conflict-affected regions.

This publication is part of a series highlighting the work and analysis of the Afghanistan Research Network (ARN), a project convened by LSE / PeaceRep, and the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). The network brings together over 20 Afghan researchers (and several non-Afghans) with diverse expertise and backgrounds investigating a range of issues. This project aims to support Afghan researchers who were recently forced to leave Afghanistan; to ensure expert and analytical provision; inform contextually-appropriate international policies and practices on Afghanistan; and to deepen understanding of evolving political, security, and economic dynamics.

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