Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism – Victims of the conflict in Afghanistan should have a voice during the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, and their demands for justice must be heeded, said Amnesty International.
With peace talks between the two sides poised to begin in Doha, Qatar, the human rights organization called on negotiating teams and the hosts to include the voices of victims and ensure the meaningful participation of women in the talks, to ensure that their rights are respected in any deal which emerges.
But for any peace talks to be worthy of their name, they must commit to delivering justice for victims and ensuring accountability for serious human rights violations.
David Griffiths, Director of the Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International
“No one desires peace more than ordinary Afghans who have suffered so much, for so long because of the conflict. But for any peace talks to be worthy of their name, they must commit to delivering justice for victims and ensuring accountability for serious human rights violations. The participation of victims in these talks is a critical safeguard to ensure that their voices are not ignored,” said David Griffiths, Director of the Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“Peace cannot merely mean a cessation of hostilities. For Afghanistan to break with its painful past and for wounds to heal, victims must have access to justice, with perpetrators held accountable. A failure to address serious human rights violations committed by all sides in the conflict will not only betray the victims but also threaten further conflict.”
