4th Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan
Date: April 24th to 26th, 2024
Location: Vienna
The fourth session of the Vienna Process for a Democratic Afghanistan was held in Vienna from June 24 to 26, 2024. It included representatives from over forty organizations, political groups, resistance movements, women, youth, ethnic communities, and several influential Afghan figures.
During the conference, participants discussed the multifaceted crisis in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, which has led to severe human rights violations, a rise in extremism and terrorism, and a decline in the rule of law. These conditions have resulted in economic and political instability, increased migration, gender apartheid against women, and the erosion of constitutional governance.
The participants reiterated their commitment to the principles established in the previous three declarations and the roadmap developed during the third round. Four specialized working groups were formed to address politics, economy, human rights, and international relations. These groups developed detailed documents proposing strategies and mechanisms for transitioning Afghanistan to a legitimate, democratic, and stable state.
Key outcomes included a call for continuous efforts to establish a democratic government reflecting the will of the Afghan people, the need for coordinated international support, and the development of an executive mechanism for Afghanistan to engage responsibly with the global community. There was also a strong emphasis on the dangers posed by the Taliban’s harboring of terrorist groups and their impact on regional and global stability. Additionally, the conference highlighted the Taliban’s policies against women as crimes against humanity and urged international recognition and accountability for these actions.
In an open letter addressed to Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, dated June 26, 2024, the participants of the Fourth Vienna Meeting expressed their profound concerns over the UN’s handling of the Afghan crisis. They criticized the United Nations for potentially normalizing the Taliban’s presence at the upcoming third Doha meeting. The letter highlighted that the Taliban, described as a criminal and terrorist group, should not be allowed to represent Afghanistan, arguing that this contradicts the basic principles of the United Nations Charter. The signatories, representing a broad spectrum of Afghan society, including political organizations, resistance groups, and civil sectors, implored the UN to reconsider its approach, which they perceive as deviating from its mandate to support democratic and inclusive processes.
Furthermore, the letter voiced strong objections to the exclusion of Afghan political groups and civil society, particularly women, from the third Doha meeting, slated for June 30, 2024. The participants of the Vienna meeting stressed that the unilateral participation of the Taliban and the meeting’s agenda, set at their behest, compromised the legitimacy and acceptability of both the meeting and the broader Doha process for all representative groups of Afghanistan. They urged the United Nations to adhere strictly to Security Council Resolution 2721, which calls for inclusive dialogue and the appointment of a Special Representative to address Afghanistan’s crises. The letter calls for the UN to act as a neutral mediator and ensure that international aid to Afghanistan is delivered with transparency and impartial supervision, underscoring the importance of maintaining the UN’s credibility and effectiveness in fostering sustainable peace and development in the region.