Conference in Geneva to Discuss Women's Rights and Accountability in Afghanistan

The third International Shahmama Conference is scheduled to take place at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on Monday. The event will gather representatives from more than a dozen countries as well as UN Women officials, diplomats, policymakers, human rights experts, international organizations, civil society activists, and Afghan women advocates.

Participants will discuss gender justice and accountability mechanisms related to women's rights in Afghanistan. The conference will review the situation of Afghan women and girls since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with particular attention to restrictions on secondary and higher education, employment, and public and political participation.

These developments have elicited criticism from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and multiple governments. The meeting comes as international actors continue to call for a reversal of the policies and for greater inclusion of women in decision-making.

The second edition of the International Shahmama Conference occurred in September 2025. Organizers expect the third conference to provide a platform for advancing conversations on accountability and the protection of women's rights. The gathering will also consider ways to ensure the voices of Afghan women are heard in future policy discussions.