This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
Published on July 12, 2019, a joint statement issued by the Taliban and Afghan representatives in Qatar has sparked hope among women's rights advocates in Afghanistan.
The statement, co-organized by Germany, came as the United States negotiates with the Taliban to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, with women's rights not explicitly on the agenda.
Asila Wardak, a women's rights campaigner who works for the Afghan foreign ministry, attended the conference and observed a positive atmosphere among the participants.
"It was interesting to me as an Afghan woman as they didn't shake hands but they warmly welcomed us," she said, describing the Taliban's behavior during the conference.
However, Ghizaal Haress, a constitutional scholar at the American University of Afghanistan, expressed concerns about the Taliban's intentions, citing the ambiguity of the term 'Islamic regime'.
"The term 'Islamic regime' is very vague, it's very broad and there is a fear of what it will mean under the interpretation of the Taliban," she said.
The Taliban's past treatment of women during their rule of Afghanistan, which ended with the US-led invasion in 2001, has left many with concerns about their commitment to women's rights.
