Youth Contact Group for Peace

Herat Youths and New Generation Peace Jirga

The Youths and New Generation Peace Jirga was held in Herat province on November 21, 2020 with the presence of hundreds of young people. The Jirga was set up by the YCGP, which was attended by representatives of the new generation and youth from 20 administrative units in the province.

The Youth and New Generation Peace Jirga of Herat consisted of three parts, which included the inauguration, the work of the working committees, the presentation of the decision of the working committees, and the presentation of the resolution.

At first, Sonia Ahmadi, a leading member of the organizing commission, provided information about the Jirga, while supporting the peace process and emphasizing the establishment of ceasefire.

Then, Mohammad Sangar Amirzadah, the head of the YCGP, stressed the need to end the war in the country and called on the parties involved to complete the negotiation process.

Khalil Ahmad Matin, deputy head of the YCGP, emphasized youth solidarity and convergence and the elimination of ethnic and linguistic bias.

Abdul Basir Aryan, Lina Heydari, Wahidullah Obaid, Aziz Ahmad Karimi, Shafiqullah Soltani and Mehdi Parsa also stressed the need to reduce violence, continue intra-Afghan negotiations and establish lasting peace in the country.

In the second part of the program, the work of the working committees began and the members of the Jirga exchanged views on six issues. The views of the members of the Jirga unified and in the third part of the program were presented by the officials of each committee. Meanwhile, the secretaries of the ten committees drafted and presented the final resolution of the Youth and New Generation Peace Jirga of Herat.

Herat Youths and New Generation Peace Jirga resolution

The Youths and New Generation Peace Jirga was held in Herat province on November 21, 2020 in which hundreds of youths attended. This Jirga which was set up by YCGP in which representatives of the New Generation and Youths from 20 administrative units of the province have participated and stated their demands and decisions from the Afghanistan Government, the Islamic Movement of Taliban and the International Community as following:

1. The current democratic and pluralistic structure should be preserved and the possibility of meaningful political participation for youths and new generation should be considered.

2. Engaging the youths with political and legal knowledge from the context of society in the composition of the negotiating team of the government regardless of ethnic, regional, linguistic, racial, partisan or religious issues.

3. Preserving the achievements of the last two decades, including the country's constitution, women's rights, protection of freedom of expression, civil rights, equality between ethnicities and religions.

4. Ensuring the security of the country’s citizens, which is one of the duties and priorities of the government.

5. Immediate ceasefire by the Taliban to reduce violence and prevent civilian casualties.

6. We call on the Islamic Movement of Taliban to act independently in the peace negotiations with a view to safeguarding national interests, and provide a comprehensive and clear agenda for intra-Afghan talks.

7. We call on the Afghan Government to remove obstacles in peace talks, and on the Islamic Movement of Taliban to cut ties with countries and organizations that provoke war.

8. We call on the Taliban to consider women's right to education and political participation in peace negotiations.

9. We call on the International Community to stay alongside the people of Afghanistan for lasting peace and comprehensive development, and use all diplomatic means to end the forty-years’ war in the country.

10. Guarantee of International Community for preserving the last two decades achievements and values.

11. Referral of the negotiations parties to the votes and will of the people on the major and crucial issues of the country.

12. Lack of physical and mental security, destruction of infrastructure and aggravation of poverty, unemployment and social crisis etc. are the problems which caused by war in Herat province.

13. Preparing the platform for inclusive participation and allocating facilities for the formation of groups of people for monitoring and achieving lasting peace in the country.

14. Presence of the media and civil society for the purpose of transparency in the peace negotiation process.

Best Regards

Herat - Youths and New Generation Peace Jirga

November 21, 2020