Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security published

On 30 June, the Government of Afghanistan launched a National Action Plan which will implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, said the Afghan Constitution obliges the government to ensure that every citizen enjoys equal rights under law. He also said that women’s perspectives should be an integral part of the decision making in the governing process. 

Women will play a genuine role in peace negotiations, not symbolic, said President Ashraf Ghani. Photo: Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

President Ghani thanked Finland for its support in the drawing up of the action plan. In the event to mark the adoption of the action plan, Anna Savolainen, acting Chargée d'Affaires, delivered a message from Finland's Foreign Minister Timo Soini to congratulate Afghanistan. According to Soini, the action plan demonstrates Afghanistan's commitment to foster women's rights and status in the society to build a better future for the country.

The aim of the UN Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace and Security" is to protect women and girls in situations of armed conflict, safeguard their human rights, prevent violence and ensure women's equal participation in peace negotiations and reconstruction efforts. The UN member states have drawn up national action plans to implement the resolution.

Finland has supported the preparation of Afghanistan's national action plan for four years.

Regional consultations were held as part of the action plan process. They brought together representatives from various branches of administration and civil society. Photo: Afghan Women Network

The priorities of the eight-year action plan(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) (2015–2022) have been divided under four pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. The aim is to strengthen, for example, women's participation in decision-making, elections and peace processes.

The aim is also to guarantee the protection of women from all forms of violence and discrimination through the enforcement, monitoring and amendment of existing laws, improve women's access to justice, provide support for survivors of violence and increase awareness of the consequences of violence.

The action plan is also geared towards preventing violence against women. The culture of impunity surrounding violence against women must be eliminated and the role of women in the security sector and judicial structures strengthened. It is important to involve men and boys in the fight against all forms of violence against women. 

The action plan's objectives and measures are presented in a matrix table including indicators and a time frame to facilitate follow-up. An implementing agency has been designated for each measure.

Ministries and authorities throughout the country occupy key roles in the implementation of the action plan. The ministries will submit annual progress reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A mid-term review will be conducted after two years.

Civil society has an important role to play in supporting the implementation of the action plan by conducting raising awareness and independently monitoring the progress of implementation. The support of the international community will also be important. Finland is currently planning its support to the implementation.

Katja Tiilikainen

The writer works in the Finnish Embassy in Kabul