Unveiling Injustice: Women's Exclusion from Global Peace Talks and Decision-Making.
The Taliban’s exclusion of women from recent UN talks in Afghanistan highlights a global problem: women’s absence from peace processes. This practice undermines sustainable peace and reflects wider gender apartheid issues. Addressing this injustice is crucial for real progress.
By Donesha “Dana” Simon
Breaking Barriers: The Persistent Exclusion of Women in Positions to Speak.
Historically, women have played significant roles in society, primarily through efforts to negotiate and advocate for their rights and representation. Despite their contributions, women continue to face exclusion from critical discussions that shape their future. They constantly encounter barriers that limit their voice in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction. Studies indicate that involving women in peace negotiations increases the likelihood of achieving a 15-year-long peace agreement. Knowing this we must ask: Why are they still being marginalized?
Source: unwomen.org
Denied Seats: Silent or Silenced?
At the July UN-led Doha 3 meeting, human rights—particularly women’s rights—were excluded from discussions at the Taliban’s insistence, justified as internal matters under Islamic law, despite the absence of women to advocate or validate these claims. Similarly, this month in Algeria, two journalists were arrested for ‘incitement and hate speech’ after airing a video where businesswomen criticized a government-sponsored innovation event. This continued silencing of women’s voices jeopardizes decades of progress in women’s rights. Without their active participation, the path to lasting peace and societal development remains uncertain and incomplete.
Source: CFR.ORG
Breaking Down Walls: Understanding Gender Apartheid.
Gender apartheid, characterized by systemic discrimination against women, remains a pervasive issue worldwide. In many regions, women encounter similar exclusions, being denied opportunities in political, economic, and social spheres. Similarly, this month in Algeria, two journalists were arrested for ‘incitement and hate speech’ after covering a women-led protest against a government-sponsored innovation event. This use of censorship and intimidation to maintain traditional gender roles and power dynamics.
Source: CFR.ORG
Global Patterns: Excluding Women from Critical Decisions.
The exclusion of women in Afghanistan and Algeria reflects a global pattern of gender-based discrimination and systematic exclusion. In these contexts, women’s voices are often policed and marginalized. Even in conventionally ‘progressive’ Western countries like the UK, research from Loughborough University reveals significant disparities in media coverage during electoral campaigns, where women were allocated only 22 percent of the speaking time. These situations serve as stark examples of broader institutionalized gender discrimination, which not only limits women’s rights and freedoms but also restricts their ability to be heard and represented.
Source: CFR.ORG
Breaking Down Walls: Understanding Gender Apartheid.
The exclusion of women from peace processes must stop for true progress to be achieved. Global movements and organizations play a crucial role in advocating for the end of gender apartheid. Supporting initiatives that promote women’s inclusion across all sectors of society is essential to building a more equitable world. Individuals and organizations can take specific actions, such as advocating for policy changes, supporting women-led organizations, and raising awareness about the importance of gender equality. Together, we can work towards a world where women are fully included, respected, and gender apartheid is ended globally.
Source: unwomen.org
“Silence and powerlessness go hand in hand – women’s voices must be heard.”
– Rebecca Solnit (American Writer, Historian, and Activist)
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