The Gender Equality Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA GEC) condemns the acts of violence perpetrated against civilians in the country of Afghanistan, especially the atrocities against women and urgently calls the global community for actions to protect and ensure no further violation of women human rights. With the adoption of the Agenda 2030 the international community agreed to make common efforts towards leaving no one behind, and now we should all act on this front.
Despite every crisis being unique, gender-based violence and discrimination as well as violation of the freedom of expression and opinion within the community and the working place, they are some of the common results of how crises amplify gender inequalities across the globe. In Afghanistan, women and girls are experiencing already the above. “All the time, women are the victims of men’s wars,” said Raihana Azad, a member of Afghanistan’s Parliament. “But they will be the victims of their peace, too.” (NY Times)
As women representatives of people centered businesses, we express our great concern for the future of women and girls in Afghanistan. Remaining committed to the internationally agreed values of the cooperative model, including self-help, equality, solidarity and democracy and its operational principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, and concern for community, while also sharing the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 vision of a world comprising “peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence”, we call the global community to stand by the women of Afghanistan through collective action.
Read the full statement below:
