We, the participants of the Fifth Vienna Process Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan,
comprising political parties and groups, liberation movements, women’s resistance movements,
civil society organizations, media representatives, and influential figures, convened on February
18 and 19, 2025, in Vienna to assess Afghanistan’s current challenges and reflect the legitimate
demands of its people. Following two days of discussions and deliberations, the following
resolutions were adopted:
This conference has focused on enhancing and adopting the Vienna Process Roadmap, which
outlines the country’s future, to achieve democracy and the rule of law in Afghanistan. This
roadmap presents a coordinated and strategic approach to establishing a stable and sustainable,
democratic, and inclusive future for Afghanistan.
The documents included in the roadmap, formulated through extensive consultations and expert
analyses by the four Vienna Process working groups, include:
Political Vision: Establishing and defining the principles and framework of a democratic
and participatory system based on free elections, equal citizenship rights, and the rule of law.
International Relations: Outlining strategies for effective engagement between the people
of Afghanistan and the international community, fostering diplomatic relations, and securing
international political and economic support.
Human Rights: Addressing mechanisms to safeguard human rights, particularly the rights
of women, children, and all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, and proposing concrete measures
for justice, including the prosecution of perpetrators of human rights violations.
Economic Framework: Presenting sustainable development strategies, poverty reduction
policies, resource management plans, and measures to attract foreign investment for job
creation and public welfare.
The Fifth Vienna Conference decided to establish a National Commission of 19 members,
encompassing all groups within the Vienna Process and future participants. This commission’s
primary tasks will include drafting final documents, consolidating a common vision, formulating
crisis-resolution strategies, and designing comprehensive political structures based on prior
declarations and the work of expert groups.
We, the participants of the Fifth Vienna Process Conference, call upon Afghan civil institutions,
neighboring and regional countries, and all international organizations and pro-democracy
governments to recognize and support the principles outlined in this roadmap as a foundation for
future actions aimed at assisting the people of Afghanistan.
We affirm our commitment to the principles of sovereignty of the people, human rights,
territorial integrity, and national unity of Afghanistan, emphasizing the following points:
Freedom- and independence-seeking and justice-oriented forces must unite for
a democratic and just Afghanistan.
We support all legitimate struggles of the people of Afghanistan to establish a democratic
system, combat terrorism, and defend their fundamental rights.
Three and a half years after the Taliban’s illegitimate takeover, the group continues to enforce
oppressive policies and commits systematic human rights violations. The most pressing concerns
include:
Implementation of gender apartheid policies against the women and girls, forced
displacements, and genocide.
Commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity, depriving the people of
Afghanistan their fundamental rights.
Harboring and training international terrorist groups within Afghanistan territory.
Systematic detention, torture, and execution of former Afghan defense and security
forces.
Escalation of drug production, trafficking, and organized crime, threatening regional and
international security and stability.
We emphasize that Afghanistan needs a legitimate and people-centered governance system based
on Islamic values and the rule of law that:
Guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens.
Ensures security and social justice for all ethnic and social groups in Afghanistan.
Effectively responds to threats of terrorism, organized crime, extremism, and human
rights violations.
The people of Afghanistan, regional powers, and the international community must collectively
and urgently revise their approaches to resolving Afghanistan’s crisis. In this regard:
The resistance of the people of Afghanistan against the Taliban regime must be
recognized globally.
International bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), must fulfill their responsibilities in prosecuting
Taliban leaders and addressing severe violations of human rights in Afghanistan.
The international community must adopt a targeted and practical all-tools approach to
pave the way for a new trajectory for Afghanistan and provide collective and sustainable
solutions for peace, justice, and prosperity, including support for a transitional
government.
The documents and roadmap developed during this conference should be accepted as a
basis for an inclusive and just future, gaining regional and global recognition.
We, the participants of this conference, reaffirm our commitment to supporting the people of
Afghanistan in their struggle for democracy, justice, freedom, and a moderate interpretation of
religion. We call upon political groups, parties, and movements to join the National Commission
of the Vienna Process to forge a broader consensus and find a viable resolution to Afghanistan’s
crisis.
Finally, we express our sincere gratitude to Austria, the Vienna Process Office for a Democratic
Afghanistan, the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, and the Raeder Institute for their
support and cooperation in organizing this initiative.