TBD
UN body says any accord with the Taliban in Afghanistan must include women's rights
The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women says that any agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan should include a clear commitment to respect and protect women's human rights.
Afghan women
The 23-member body urges the Afghan government and its international allies "to ensure that women representatives are included in the upcoming peace and development negotiations with the Taliban,"
The Committee expresses its deep concern at the exclusion of Afghan women from the high level London Conference on Afghanistan held on 28 January.
It is also concerned about the "the absence of clear strategies to protect women's rights in the lead up to negotiations with representatives of the Taliban."
It stresses that Afghan women, who are the majority of the population, must be full and equal participants in decision-making, at all levels, in the process of peace-building, reconciliation, reconstruction and development of their country.
The Committee also calls on the Afghan government to review all discriminatory laws and provisions.
The women's rights body draws particular attention to the much-criticized Shiite minorities law, which is especially discriminatory against women.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.
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