KABUL - The UN’s top official in Afghanistan, speaking to representatives from a Kabul university, stressed the need for women to participate in peace talks.

Women should influence the agenda and participate in talks, said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, noting that the “best people for defending the position of women are women.”

The UN envoy made his comments during a Global Open Days discussion with students and faculty from the American University of Afghanistan.

Global Open Days provide a forum for dialogue between UN senior leadership and women’s organizations worldwide on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The Open Days events were launched in 2010 to mark the 10th anniversary of the resolution, which outlines the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflict and stresses the importance of their equal participation in maintaining and promoting peace.

Mr. Haysom, who is also head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said the UN is working to ensure that Afghan peace mediators have women on their teams and that civil society organizations are involved in setting the agenda for peace negotiations.

Turning to women’s role in social development, Mr. Haysom said global research on development has indicated that all important barometers – including mortality, education, quality of life and economic production – are related to the treatment of women in society.

He said women should be treated with dignity, and noted that it makes economic sense to ensure that women’s issues are addressed and that Afghan women participate in the public life of the nation.

The UN envoy assured the university representatives that the UN will continue working to encourage women’s participation in public life and make their voices heard at the leadership level.

In September, UNAMA began this year’s series of Global Open Days events across Afghanistan, including in Bamyan, Nangarhar, Mazar, Jawzjan, Herat and Gardez provinces. Four additional events are scheduled through mid-October.