Peace is a concept expressed by compromise, reconciliation and nonviolent life. Peace is not just the ending violence and war. It encompasses other issues such as justice, economic, security, development, good governance, accountability and transparency. In our oppressed country [Afghanistan], harmed women feel the pain of the war by all means - when they lose one of their family members or they are injured. Often, the main victims are women or children. It is critical that w

Despite the government commitments for women’s political participation, we observe that the realization of these commitments is facing severe obstacles. This results in weakening of women’s inclusion in leadership and decision making in the government. We express our deep concerns about failure of parliament in giving votes of confidence to Ms. Nargis Nehan, the Minister designate for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP). Ms. Nargis Nehan, in the past eight months Ms. N

Braving physical danger and risks on many sides, Nighat Shafi Pandit works with rural communities in violence-scarred Jammu and Kashmir. HELP Foundation, an organization she founded, strives to address the pain and trauma of people caught up in the decades long conflict. Her work focuses on educating orphans, rehabilitating widows, promoting peace and inter-communal harmony, and other endeavors. In 2005, Nighat Shafi was among the three Kashmiris who were nominated for the No

Shahla Farid is a professor at Kabul University's Faculty of Law and Political Science, member of High Peace Council (HPC) in Kabul, practicing lawyer, and a women’s rights advocate. Previously she worked for the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) as head of the legal department. Her advocacy for women’s rights has made her the target of violence in the past, yet she persists in her work for peace and women’s equality. She has over 20 years of experience in community development en