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The Vienna Process for a Democratic Afghanistan cooperates with Afghan and international civil society and political organizations, as well as other Afghan-owned and Afghan-led initiatives. As per June 2024, the Vienna Process has so far hosted four conferences and welcomed over 500 individuals across the Afghan ethnic and religious spectrum. External support has been provided by numerous experts through feedback working groups and participation in conferences, seminars, and informational events. Vienna Process activists have established strong ties between Afghans worldwide and with the UN, EU, OSCE, and other international and regional organizations, aimed at facilitating discussions and forging a path towards a stable and democratic Afghanistan. Each conference focused on critical issues such as economic stability, governance, peacebuilding, human rights, and regional and international dynamics, with the primary aim of forming a unified declaration that outlines the commitments and steps forward. Below is a list of our major conferences, along with links to their respective declarations.

4th Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan

  • Date: April 24th to 26th, 2024

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.

3rd Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan

During extensive discussions, participants in the Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, human rights, and national unity as the foundation for establishing a representative political system in Afghanistan. The conference, recognizing the ongoing illegitimate rule of the Taliban and the humanitarian crisis, called for substantial support from the United Nations and the international community to facilitate a political process addressing the nation's critical issues.

Key points of the declaration include urging the UN to take practical actions to promote freedom, peace, stability, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Afghanistan. The declaration supports the Afghan people's right to self-determination and self-defense as outlined in the UN Charter, due to severe human rights violations. It also emphasizes the need for coordinated global efforts to combat terrorism and documents human rights abuses to ensure justice.

The Roadmap developed during the conference outlines a vision to end the oppressive rule of the Taliban and foster the participation of a broad spectrum of Afghan society, including women, men, ethnic groups, and political entities, in establishing a political system based on Islamic, civic, and democratic values. It aims to create a unified umbrella organization that represents the diverse political views and commitments across Afghanistan, ensuring a governance structure that derives its legitimacy from the will of the people, adheres to the rule of law, and promotes a culture of justice, non-discrimination, and inclusion for a policy in peace with themselves, their neighbors, and the international system. This Roadmap is considered a living document, continuously evolving to address emerging challenges and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to adapt to the changing landscape in Afghanistan.

Additionally, the conference highlighted the role of Islamic countries in countering the misinterpretation of Islam by the Taliban and stressed the importance of a systematic approach to revitalizing Afghanistan's international standing and enhancing relations among various regional and ethnic groups. Participants expressed gratitude to the Austrian Institute for International Affairs and other organizations for their ongoing support of the Vienna conferences.

2nd Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan

Over 20 months into Taliban rule, Afghanistan's plight has worsened, pushing the nation towards a profound human tragedy. The 2nd Vienna Conference, recognizing the urgent need for effective action, called for the integration of all national political, social, and intellectual forces committed to supporting peaceful resistance against the Taliban. This conference highlighted the continuous brutality of the Taliban despite the calls for change outlined in the First Vienna Conference's declaration.

The participants resolved to uphold and expand the opposition against the Taliban by forming a Working Group to enhance coordination among resistance entities. They emphasized negotiation as the preferred solution but supported strengthening all forms of peaceful resistance due to the Taliban's unchanging stance. The systematic exclusion of women from public life was specifically condemned as a manifestation of the Taliban's gender apartheid. The conference also criticized the international community and the United Nations for their insufficient response to the crisis. Key actions called for included sanctions against Taliban leaders violating human rights, and support from the international community to resist the Taliban's regime until a democratically elected government is established.

1st Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan

The conference addressed the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan following the collapse of the Islamic Republic and the Taliban's takeover. Discussions focused on the humanitarian disaster, economic challenges, and systematic human rights violations, including the exclusion of women from education and employment. The lack of legitimate governance and Afghanistan's increasing international isolation were also highlighted.

Participants advocated for a political dialogue involving all national and civil movements to establish a comprehensive alternative political structure. The conference emphasized support for the Afghan people's resistance and the urgent need to reopen girls' educational institutions. It concluded with a strong call for regional and international cooperation to uphold human rights and stabilize Afghanistan.