2024 - Where are the women of power?

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Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had promised that women would be involved in decision-making positions in the government. For example, a recent meeting of the all-male government sparked anger in the country.

But where are the women? Afghans protested on social media after photo revealed no woman present at government meeting despite the president's promise that they would be involved in decision-making positions.

Spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, Sediq Sediqqi, published the photo of the 12 men present, thanking them for their "efforts in political agreement"they got, calling it"not important towards national unity and political consensus ".

Afghans, both men and women, have expressed their concern about the absence of influential women from the country. "We are fighting a double fight, against the Taliban, but also against our own government. None of them (men) naturally feel compelled to include women in decision-making. We expect the government to fight for our rights against the Taliban, but how will they do this when they continue to exclude us? ", wondered in particular Freshta Karim, activist and director of Charmaghz, an organization promoting non-profit education.

Afghanistan has suffered more than 40 years of war as well as the Taliban rule, which has led to women being deprived of their fundamental rights, including education and freedom of movement. Many women find themselves forced to stay at home while girls are deprived of school.

Ashraf Ghani said earlier this year that women’s participation is now observed at all levels in Afghanistan. Yet important recent decisions have been made in the absence of women. "This is worrying, especially as the government is preparing for intra-Afghan negotiations with the Taliban."said Shaharzad Akbar, chairman of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). "There are not enough women on the negotiating team – the staff is below expectations and it is possible that an almost entirely male list of the firm may be offered. This is worrying. This sends the message that the government leadership does not take women's voices, expertise and ideas seriously. ", he added.

Following the controversy caused by the cliché of the male meeting, Sediq Sediqqi assured that the government was taking note of it and would ensure female participation in the future. "Afghan women are no longer left behind, but they are leaders", did he declare. "President Ghani's main political element on the empowerment of women over the past five years has not been symbolic, but a meaningful approach to elevating women and taking them to the upper echelons of state decision-making", he added.

However, after Ashraf Ghani’s victory in 2015, only three women ministers were appointed to the cabinet. This had notably provoked demonstrations in Kabul, the Afghan capital.