LIGHTNING TALK
The current situation in Afghanistan – particularly for women and girls – is a tumultuous one. With growing violence and stalled peace talks, SDG progress in the region is vulnerable to further significant setbacks. The lived reality on the ground witnesses an escalation in gender-based violence, as well as a targeting of educators, students, journalists, and human rights defenders. Despite being disproportionately affected by this conflict, women in Afghanistan are often sidelined from the peace negotiation process. Jamila Afghani has made it clear that the “Afghan women today are not the women of 30-40 years ago. We know our rights, granted by our faith and guaranteed by the constitution of Afghanistan as well as required by the international conventions ratified by Afghanistan.” As a woman activist and religious peace maker, Jamila works for equality, justice, and demilitarization.
