Her Excellency Rula Ghani, First Lady of Afghanistan was named Honorary Chair of a high-level advisory committee established to oversee the Resolute Support Gender Office’s priorities, during a meeting today at Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul.
The Committee will assist in determining how internationally donated funds on gender plans, programs, and projects will be invested in Afghanistan. The meeting today was attended by key stakeholders from the Government of Afghanistan, ambassadors, and representatives from international organizations.
Stakeholders discussed the priorities for Resolute Support’s efforts toward the enduring participation of women in the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, and how their full and safe contribution to the security and stability of Afghanistan would best be secured. The protection of the human rights of women and girls was also discussed.
“Today marks an important milestone in Resolute Support’s ongoing backing to gender initiatives within the Afghan Security Institutions (ASI),” said General John Campbell, Commander of Resolute Support mission. “This committee will serve as a valuable forum and platform through which we can better coordinate our collective efforts to support Afghan women in uniform.
“Afghan servicewomen already have, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in protecting the Afghan people. Female soldiers and policewomen— just like their male counterparts—have already proven their willingness to lay down their lives in defense of this nation. I salute the courage and commitment of all the brave women who currently serve in uniform. They are setting a model example of selfless service for generations to come.
“Afghanistan is safer when both men and women contribute to its security. That is why gender integration within the Afghan Security Forces is so important.
“The empowerment of Afghan women within the security forces contributes immensely to wider efforts to advance women’s rights throughout Afghan society. Yet gender integration is not just about women’s rights; it’s about fundamental human rights and the imperative of leveraging all the talents of this remarkable country as it strives to build a more stable and prosperous future. All of us at Resolute Support are proud to contribute to this noble cause.”
“The establishment of the Advisory Committee is an important step,” said Col. Amanda Fielding, Resolute Support Senior Gender Advisor. “The committee’s role will be to provide political and strategic guidance on the plans and programs to support gender integration within the armed forces in Afghanistan. For example, how money from the Afghan Security Forces Fund and the NATO Trust fund will be invested. It is vital that high-level stakeholders take part in this work; therefore, I’m very pleased that H.E. Rula Ghani has accepted the position of Honorary Chair. Her participation and the participation of senior female Afghan government officials is a clear indication of how the Afghan Government views the issue of gender integration in the armed forces.”
The advisory committee will be chaired by the commander of Resolute Support, General John Campbell. Among other members are Ms. Dilbar Nazari, Minister for Women’s Affairs; Dr. Habiba Sarabi, Chief Executive’s Senior Advisor in Women and Youth Affairs; Ms. Nargis Nehan, Presidential Advisor; Chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Dr. Sima Samar; UNAMA’s Senior Representative Secretary Nicholas Haysom; NATO Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador Ismail Aramaz; Canadian Ambassador Deborah Lyons; German Ambassador Marcus Poetzel as well as other key stakeholders within Afghan government institutions, non-government associations and international organizations.
