Nobel Women's Initiative - Home
Join Us Donate
  • Home
  • Who We Are

    Since 2006 we have worked in solidarity with women's movements, organizations, and activists around the world to build peace, defend justice, and champion equality for all.
    • The Laureates

      • Rigoberta Menchú Tum
      • Jody Williams
      • Shirin Ebadi
      • Leymah Gbowee
      • Tawakkol Karman
      • Maria Ressa
      • Narges Mohammadi
      • Oleksandra Matviichuk
    • The Board

      • Profiles
    • Supporters

      • Individual and institutional donors
    • Staff

      • Profiles
  • What We Do

    Nobel Women's Initiative delivers programs, events, training, mentorship, advocacy and campaigns.
    • Areas of Work

      • Influencing Change
      • Shifting the Narrative
      • Leading Peace Together
    • News & Information

      • Press releases and Statements
      • Annual & Thematic Reports
      • Blog
  • Our Approach

    This is why and how we work to increase the visibility of women striving for peace, justice and equality.
    • About Us

      • Vision, Mission, Feminist Principles
      • Highlights of our Work
      • History & Background
    • What's Our Approach?

      • Transition and Renewal
      • Strategic Directions 2023-2027
  • Get Involved

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on opportunities to join us in our work.
      • Donate
    • Work With Us

      • Jobs
Join Us Donate
  1. Press releases and Statements
  2. Nobel Peace laureates' statement on Afghanistan

Nobel Peace laureates' statement on Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, as in conflict afflicted countries and regions throughout the world, there can be no just and durable state of peace without the leadership and on-going participation of women.

Posted on September 2, 2021
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

In the context of the current state of regime-change, as Nobel Peace Laureates, we share the concerns expressed around the world about the safety and well-being of the civilian population in Afghanistan, with special consideration for women leading in human rights defence, peace-building, civil society and journalism.

We strongly condemn all violations against the fundamental human rights of the people in this process and call upon all parties to cease hostilities. We demand the restoration of humanitarian access and the protection of humanitarian organizations and spaces. We ask that civilians be able to move freely in and out of the country without being harmed.

Women’s human rights must be protected in country, and when they are on the move, during evacuation and re-settlement processes.

We support the establishment of a United Nations mandated fact-finding mission in Afghanistan, as requested by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). The Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom (Afghanistan Section) has stated that the first priority of this mission should be an assessment of the security situation from an emergency humanitarian perspective in the understanding that the region is being further destabilized.

Like many in the international community we were disappointed with the weak response by the UN Human Rights Council during the special session held on August 24th and call upon this body to act with haste to protect civilians through the negotiation of a cease fire, the revival of the peace process, and by ensuring that resolutions relating to women, peace and security are fully implemented.

The UN HRC must act with urgency and moral clarity, taking bold and deliberate action to ensure that vulnerable people are shielded from harm. There must be no reprisals against women human rights defenders, feminist leaders or women civil society actors.

We agree with Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, that the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls represents a ‘red line”. This treatment will be a key indicator of their sincerity of their pledge to protect human rights.

We call for immediate and inclusive peace negotiations. Afghan women’s organizations are asking for not less than 40% representation of women peace activists, feminist groups, and women politicians. We support this call unequivocally.

In Afghanistan, as in conflict afflicted countries and regions throughout the world, there can be no just and durable state of peace without the leadership and on-going participation of women.

In advance of the resolution of these matters, we make an urgent appeal to President Joe Biden and all governments who have left civilians behind to do everything in their individual and collective power to ensure the safe evacuation and passage of those who were promised exit and those who choose to leave Afghanistan including women human rights defenders.

Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011) – Liberia
Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate (2003) – Iran
Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011) – Yemen
Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Laureate (1992) – Guatemala
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997) – USA

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Press releases and Statements

June 16, 2025

Iranian Civil Society Says No to War

June 11, 2025

Report on Delegation to West Bank and Jordan: Spotlight on Palestinian Women’s Resistance

May 8, 2025

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Outline Conditions for a People-Centered Peace in Ukraine

April 15, 2025

Women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Bear Witness to Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, and Illegal Occupation in Palestine

March 13, 2025

Nobel Laureates Call for Full and Unconditional Release of Narges Mohammadi and All Political Prisoners

March 7, 2025

Joint Nobel Laureate Appeal to Seize Frozen Russian State Assets

January 22, 2025

The International Community Must Stop Overlooking the DRC

December 20, 2024

Women, Life, Freedom
زن, زندگی, آزادی
Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

October 11, 2024

2024 Nobel Peace Prize Honors Survivors of Nuclear Weapons

October 2, 2024

Closing the Justice Gap: UN Member States Must Take Decisive Action on Crimes Against Humanity

August 29, 2024

Justice Must be Carried out for Berta Cáceres in Honduras

July 12, 2024

Exclusion of Afghan Women from Negotiations Puts Women at Further Risk

More — Press releases and Statements

Recent Media Coverage

Irish lawyer-turned-peace campaigner calls for public to lobby TDs after ‘chilling’ West Bank visit. Irish Independent. 17 May 2025.

‘So much gratitude in West Bank for Irish solidarity’: How Nobel Prize-winners are raising Palestinians’ plight. The Irish Times. 08 May 2025.

Maria Ressa says Americans must ‘hold the line’ against autocracy. GBH. 01 May 2025.

‘It makes me want to scream’: Nobel peace prize winner horrified by planned exits from landmine treaty. The Guardian. 27 April 2025.

As Trump Attacks CBS, Maria Ressa Warns He Is Following Philippine Model to Crack Down on Free Press. Democracy Now. 24 April 2025.

UNRWA students in Jordan share hopes, dreams with women Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The Jordan Times. 22 April 2025.

Nobel Peace Laureates Conclude Jordan Visit with Meeting with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal. ARDD. 21 April 2025.

Women Nobel Peace Laureates and Jordanian Human Rights Defenders Call for Collective Action for Peace and Security. ARDD. 16 April 2025.

Women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Travel to Meet Palestinian Women. Fox4 News. 15 April 2025.

Tawakkol Karman from Amman: The Palestinian Woman is a Symbol of Resilience and We Must Continue Documenting to Expose the Crimes of the Occupation. Amman Net. 13 April 2025.

All the women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize—and why their role is so important. Tatler. 09 October 2024.

Four Nobel Laureates Call To End Iran’s Execution Spree. Iran International Newsroom. 16 May 2024.

Women Without Weapons: “Rebels With A Cause”. The Urban Activist. 20 February 2024.

Einer Maschine kann man sich nicht ergeben. Tagesspiegel Background. 16 February 2024. 

Nobel Peace Prize laureates Maria Ressa, Tawakkol Karman meet Pope Francis. Global Affairs. 6 December 2023.

Gaza needs a Cease-Fire, not a Cessation of Aid. Informed Comment. 16 November 2023.

Cease fire, not aid. Waging NonViolence. 13 November 2023.

Only democracy can solve this problem - a conversation with Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Waging NonViolence. 3 November 2023.  

Activist wins Nobel Peace Prize. CTV National News. 6 October 2023.

Jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel peace prize. The Guardian. 6 October 2023.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi reflects on decades of resistance against Iran’s regime. The Globe and Mail. 6 October 2023.

Nobel laureate Ebadi hopes Mohammadi's will bring equality to Iranian women. Reuters. 6 October 2023.

Ukraine joins calls to overhaul “dysfunctional” UN Security Council. Euromaidan Press. 19 September 2023.

Dr. Areeg Abdalmagid Abass: An Urgent Perspective on Sudan. Girls Globe. 12 September 2023.

When Bangladesh PM Shows Growing Enmity Against Prof. Yunus. Pressenza International Press Agency. 3 September 2023.

Leymah Gbowee Urges Voters to Stop Rewarding Warlords With Votes. South Africa Today. 22 August 2023.

Liberia Marks 20 Years Since the End of Its Civil War. Will a War Crimes Court Ever Be Created? Pass Blue. 21 August 2023.

Recognizing the Role of Women in Fighting for Peace in Ukraine. Women's Enews. 23 February 2023. 

How Ukrainian Women Are Working to Safeguard Human Rights in the Face of War. Ms Magazine. 23 February 2023. 

Jody Williams: "Se están usando minas terrestres en la invasión de Ucrania". El Espanol. 8 February 2023. 

Nobel laureate Ebadi says Iran's 'revolutionary process' is irreversible. Reuters. 3 February 2023.

Minelegging truer sivile i Ukraina. Klassekampen. 25 January 2023. 

“Oh, Sister!” — life of Women of Ukraine amidst the war. The Odessa Journal. 29 December 2022.

‘Bravery has no gender’: Nobel prize winner praises role of women in Ukraine conflict. The Irish Times. 16 December 2022.

Für Ukraine alles geben, was möglich ist. Berliner Zeitung, 16 December 2022. 

Shirin Ebadi on the legal obstacles Iran’s protesters face. Economist, 16 November 2022

Will Russia use tactical nukes? It’s time to abolish nuclear weapons.* Houston Chronicle, 6 November 2022

How Women Respond to War: An Interview With Three Nobel Laureates. Women's Media Center, 4 November 2022

U.S/ Seeks Removal of Iran From U.N. Women's Rights Agency. New York Times, 2 November 2022

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Spotlight the Brave, Visionary Women of Ukraine And Launch 'Women Lead' Campaign. Forbes, 28 October 2022

“They Want a Democracy”: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi on Protests, Regime’s Future. Democracy Now, 20 October 2022

'Iran will be democratic one day': Shirin Ebadi. DW, 23 October 2022

Shirin Ebadi: Women will open the gate to democracy in Iran. CNN, 7 October 2022

*Behind a paywall

Nobel Women's Initiative

Contact Information

General Inquiries
Email:
261 Montreal Rd, Suite 310
Ottawa, ON K1L 8C7
Media Inquiries
Daina Ruduša
Email:

Join Us

  • Join us
  • Donate
  • Event Registration Fee

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Subscribe


© 2025 Nobel Women's Initiative

Sign in to control panel Created with NationBuilder Built by Progressive Nation
Loading…