Women Members of Afghanistan and Japan Parliaments Virtually Hold the First Inter-Parliamentary Meeting
The first Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between women members of the parliaments of Afghanistan and Japan was held virtually on July 13, 2021. The meeting was attended by senior Afghan officials, women MPs and senators from the two countries. They discussed the raising violence by the Taliban and its humanitarian consequences, the ongoing peace efforts in Afghanistan and women’s participation in the process, as well as, expansion of parliamentary linkages between the two countries.
Her Excellency Hasina Safi, Acting Minister of Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan; H.E. Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Japan; Ms. Matsukawa Rui, Member of House of Councilors of Japan; Ms. Yukari Sato and Ms. Karen Makishima, Members of House of Representatives of Japan; Ms. Zohra Motahar Ahmadzai, Deputy Chairperson of the High Peace Council of Afghanistan; Ms. Shinkai Karookhail, Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus of the National Assembly of Afghanistan; Ms. Habiba Danish, Member of the National Assembly of Afghanistan, participated and spoke in this virtual meeting.
The participants shared their concerns over the raising violence by the Taliban, which has further exacerbated the vulnerabilities of the Afghan women, and stressed the need for the meaningful role of women in the Afghan peace process and highlighted the importance of preserving the hard-won gains of the women of Afghanistan over the past two decades.
Mr. Najibullah Safi, Counselor of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo, moderated this virtual meeting.
