Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Global leaders gathered at the Doha Forum to discuss the critical imperative of rebuilding education for women in Afghanistan. The session focused on strategies to empower Afghan women through education, highlighting both the moral duty and strategic necessity of investing in the nation’s educational sector.
Rina Amiri, Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights at the U.S. Department of State, underscored that investing in Afghanistan’s education is not only a moral duty but a strategic necessity. She emphasized the importance of such investments for steering Afghanistan towards moderation and inclusivity, preventing it from becoming a threat to itself or its neighbors.
Former Minister of Education, Afghanistan, and Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Rangina Hamidi, shared a personal commitment to the cause. Reflecting on her father’s actions in 1981 to provide educational opportunities for his daughters, she expressed her lifelong dedication to working for Afghan women and girls.
The urgency of the situation was emphasized by Alex Thier, CEO of Lapis Communications, who urged immediate action and highlighted existing organizations tirelessly working to reach Afghan girls. Roya Mahboob, CEO and Founder of Digital Citizen Fund, stressed the societal importance of women and called neglecting girls’ education a profound obligation.
Dr. Ghulam Omar Qargha, a Fellow at the Brookings Institute, urged a systematic approach, encouraging the exploration of locally driven but globally effective solutions.
The session also addressed the challenge of envisioning the future of education for Afghan women without the involvement of the Taliban leadership. H.E. Rina Amiri acknowledged the difficulty of engaging the Taliban, emphasizing the need for separate discussions behind closed doors.
Dr. Qargha emphasized the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and expressed hope that the Taliban would be willing to participate. Rangina highlighted the international community’s responsibility in deciding Afghanistan’s fate, calling on them to figure out how to deal with the Taliban if they remain in power.
Despite challenges and concerns about losing a generation, Amiri clarified that the goal is ‘normalization,’ not ‘recognition,’ stressing the coordinated efforts needed with the international community to achieve the desired normalization. Rangina acknowledged the uncertainty of dealing with the Taliban in the coming years, expressing a need for international collaboration to address this complex situation.
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