Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, they experience conflict differently and therefore understand peace differently.

UNAMA’s work on women, peace and security is enshrined in UN Security Council resolution 2210 (2015) which reinforces the Mission’s imperative to promote gender equality including increasing women’s role in public life and Afghan society. The promotion of the Women, Peace and Security agenda is guided by a series of commitments to women’s rights including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Millennium Declaration, the eight UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security: 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015).

As wars and conflicts around the world have a disproportionate and unique impact on women and girls, the United Nations reaffirms that women have an important role to play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building. It also stresses that the equal participation and full involvement of women in conflict resolution can significantly contribute to the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.

“1325 (2000) holds out a promise to women across the globe … we must uphold this promise. To achieve the goals set out in the resolution, political will, concerted action and accountability on the part of the entire international community are required.” (Secretary-General's 2004 Report on Women, Peace and Security)

Through the efforts of all sections - including implementing, programming and support personnel - UNAMA supports Afghan institutions and civil society to enhance women’s meaningful contributions in Afghanistan’s political and security transitions, including the peacebuilding agenda. The Mission firmly believes women’s equal participation in the public sphere, is crucial towards shaping lasting peace in the country.

“… without a significant implementation shift, women and women’s perspectives will continue to be underrepresented in conflict prevention, resolution, protection and peacebuilding for the foreseeable future” S/RES/2122, OP 15

The promotion of the Women, Peace and Security agenda is achieved through a multifaceted approach including:

• Analysis of women’s role in political processes, including targeted attacks against women holding public office such as employees of the judiciary and security institutions.
• Documentation of progress and gaps in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security resolutions through public statements and analytical reports.
• Good offices toward gender-sensitive legislative/policy reforms to enable women to fully take part in the security sector, the electoral process, peace negotiations etc.;
• Capacity-building of national institutions and civil society to strengthen ability to integrate gender considerations during the fulfillment of respective mandates.
• Awareness-raising activities to fight misinterpretations of the role of women within Afghan laws and Islam.
• Information-sharing and collaboration with relevant UN agencies, donors and non-governmental organizations involved in promoting the WPS agenda to streamline coordination, output delivery and quick response to emerging situations.
• Facilitation of dialogue between UN senior leadership and Afghan women’s organizations on the implementation of the resolution 1325 through the organization of Global Open Days in Kabul and across the country.