KANDAHAR - Participants in the half-day discussion in Kandahar represented civil society and media organizations. They came together to identify ways to promote inclusivity and give voice to the views of ordinary Afghans on critical issues that impact their lives most, including security, economic development, rule of law, human rights and prospects for peace and reconciliation.

The People’s Dialogue meetings are designed to raise awareness among Afghans about key issues and ensure that people’s concerns and aspirations are heard and amplified, and incorporated by policy-makers into processes and plans for achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

At the Kandahar meeting, Human Rights officials from the regional office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan explained UNAMA’s role as a facilitator in the process and outlined a structure for local civil society organizations to continue to engage in People’s Dialogue meetings.

More than one dozen civil society organizations and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission oversee and sponsor the public discussions. To date, more than 6,000 Afghan citizens – men, women and young people – have taken part in the Afghan People’s Dialogue for Peace at meetings in all 34 provinces, including in remote, rural areas.

The findings of the earlier phase of the People’s Dialogue were published in the form of a summary report in June 2014, entitled “Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace: Building the Foundations for an Inclusive Peace Process.” A national conference held on 15 January 2015 in Kabul provided a chance for Afghan leaders to develop national advocacy strategies as part of the province-level recommendations.

The work at the January 2015 conference built on the June 2014 report. That work is now continuing in the new round of provincial meetings.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party.