Belgian Senate to Host Meeting on Afghan Women's Role Against Taliban

The European Foundation for Democracy announced that a meeting on Afghanistan's future, centered on the role of women in countering the Taliban, will take place next Tuesday in the Belgian Senate.

The event is organized in collaboration with the Afghan Women Diplomatic Network and the Independent Diplomats institution, with support from Belgian Senator Viviane Teitelbaum. The foundation stated the goal is to examine Afghan women's role in civil and democratic resistance against the Taliban and identify ways for the international community to support efforts by Afghan women and opposition groups toward a free and inclusive Afghanistan.

Participants include European officials and Afghan political and civil society figures. Speakers from Afghanistan include Shakria Barakzai, president of the Coalition of Afghan Women for Justice; Nargis Nehan, founder of Inclusive; Zalmay Neshat, executive director of the Mosaic Global Foundation; Masuma Khawari, member of the National Resistance Council; and Wojma Tokhi, advocate for youth, women, and quality education.

Other Afghan attendees are Rahila Dostum, president of the Dostum Foundation; Abdullah Khanjani, head of the political committee of the National Resistance Front; Negara Mirdad, founder of the Afghan Women Diplomatic Network; Dawood Naji, head of the political committee of the Afghan Freedom Front; and Khalid Pashtun, former parliament member. They are set to discuss "gender apartheid," Afghan women's resistance, and strengthening anti-Taliban figures.

European participants include Valérie De Bue, vice president of the Belgian Senate; Viviane Teitelbaum; Sophie Wilmès, vice president of the European Parliament; Isabelle Rome, French ambassador for human rights and Holocaust remembrance; and Hadja Lahbib, EU commissioner for equality, preparedness, and crisis management.

The foundation described the meeting as an opportunity for Europe and the international community to explore practical support for Afghan women and the "democratic opposition." Amu sources previously confirmed that the European Parliament and Belgian Senate will host Taliban opponents on March 27-28. These sessions mark Europe's first public engagement with Taliban opponents amid the Afghanistan crisis, shifting from prior focus on humanitarian aid, women's rights, and asylum to political and armed resistance. The EU has emphasized engagement with the Taliban while avoiding open ties with opposition fronts.