United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan
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UNITED NATIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR AFGHANISTAN
4.3
Social Cohesion, Inclusion, Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Rule of Law
OUTCOME 3.
By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan can participate in an increasingly socially-
cohesive, gender-equal, and inclusive society, where the rule of law and human rights are
progressively upheld, and more people can participate in governance and decision-
making.
Stability, gender equity and equality, inclusive and accountable governance, human rights, labour
rights, and the rule of law, in line with international standards, are prerequisites for sustainable
development and peace in Afghanistan. Inequality and exclusion are both cause and consequence of
conflict. As such, progress towards Strategic Priority 3 depends on addressing the root causes and the
disproportionate impact of conflict on the excluded, particularly women and girls.
Support for citizen engagement and participation in all aspects and levels of political, governance,
economic, social, and cultural life - particularly for women, youth, persons living with disabilities, and
other excluded groups - will be essential for social cohesion and tackling drivers of inequality and
conflict.
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Strengthened civil society, especially women- and youth-led civil society, will contribute to locally led
development initiatives, while inclusive community reconciliation and peacebuilding will help mitigate
violence and resolve disputes through non-violent means. Accountability and transparency can be
enhanced through support to independent media, increased access to information and freedom of
movement, peaceful assembly, and expression. Strengthening the rights of women and other
excluded groups will require addressing policies, structures, and harmful socio-cultural norms,
including through engagement with the de facto authorities at all levels, and creating architecture to
advance rights across all spheres of life. Measures will be needed to provide specialized and flexible
support to women leaders and women-led civil society to support their work.
Coordinated advocacy for alignment of Afghanistan's normative and legal frameworks with
international human rights instruments, especially women's rights, while enhancing access to formal
and informal justice systems in line with international standards particularly for the most
excluded will be required. The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination
of forced, child labour, discrimination, and safe and healthy working environment should also be
ensured to protect workers' rights, particularly of women. With its partners, the UN will work towards
the achievement of this outcome through the outputs below.View entire presentation