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23.11.2020 Afghanistan 2020 Conference: Development objectives for 2021–24 under focus
The Afghanistan 2020 Conference – Geneva has kicked off in the Swiss city with the functions of the Afghan government as well as the international community’s political and financial commitments for the next four years in the focus.
The Conference is a ministerial pledging conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Afghanistan and Finland with the United Nations taking place 23–24 November. The quadrennial pledging conference is an important opportunity for Afghanistan and the international community to commit to common objectives for promoting sustainable development, prosperity and peace in the country.
A central aim of the conference is to determine shared development objectives and commitments for the period 2021–24 for the Afghan government and the international community.
Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, who officially opened the conference, said the Afghan government had accepted the challenge for peace and released Taliban prisoners without any agreement, while the violence had not abated. He stressed peace efforts should reduce violence and put an end to the war in Afghanistan.
Rula Ghani, the country’s first lady, called on the international community to include women politically in peace talks. Rula Ghani called on the Taliban to respect the political presence of women. Rula Ghani said the Taliban have intensified the war despite their commitments to reduce violence, and that many Afghans have been killed by the insurgents.
She stressed that peace would not be lasting without guaranteeing the rights of Afghan women.
Shaharzad Akbar, head of the country’s Independent Human Rights Commission, also stressed the importance of establishing a ceasefire, direct participation of war victims in intra-Afghan negotiations, and protection of the rights of war victims. Shaharzad Akbar said the presence of the international community is important for peace in Afghanistan.
During the conference, members of the government’s team in peace dialogue in Doha, Qatar, also emphasized the inclusiveness of the intra-Afghan dialogue. “Peace is important for Afghanistan and progress in this process has been difficult,” said Masoom Stanekzai, head of the government’s negotiating team. “Intra-Afghan talks need more time,” he said.
Habiba Sarabi, a female member of the government’s negotiating team, said that the participation of Afghan women in the peace process should be valued. According to her, Afghanistan needs the long-term support of the international community.
The international participants in the meeting called for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said at the meeting that regional consensus was needed to bring peace to Afghanistan. Ghani called on the international community to continue its assistance for a stable Afghanistan.
The conference plenary will take place on 24 November, with side events on 23 November. The conference is expected to bring together more than 70 countries, international organisations and agencies, as well as civil society representatives. It was last held in 2016 in Brussels and in Tokyo in 2012.
Due to the serious COVID-19 situation in Switzerland, the Conference will take place virtually, with the Palais des Nations in Geneva remaining as the hub for all logistics.
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