Afghan female peace negotiator nominated for Nobel Prize

Afghan peace negotiator Fawzia Koofi says her mination for bel Peace Prize demonstrates global support for women of Afghanistan amid historic talks between country's warring sides. One of four women representing Afghan government, Koofi has been sitting down at negotiating table with members of Taliban for talks that began last month in Arab state of Qatar.

female members of 21-person negotiating team have vowed to preserve women’s rights in any power-sharing deal with hard-line Taliban. This includes right to work, education and participation in political life, all denied to women when Taliban ruled Afghanistan for five years.

Afghanistan, including government, remains deeply conservative and women are largely confined to ir homes. Koofi, a 45-year-old women’s and human rights activist, former member of parliament and survivor of two armed attacks, says Peace Prize mination "gives us more strength and authority so that we can better defend and represent Afghan women.”

“ world is horing open struggle for peace by women in Afghanistan,” she told Associated Press, speaking by phone from Qatar.

Amid peace talks, eyes of international community are likely to be biggest motivator for making progress for women. Although she's just one of 318 candidates for bel Peace Prize — 211 individuals and 107 organizations — Koofi said emphasis on role of women in shaping a peaceful future for Afghanistan was very important.

Koofi is 19th daughter of a rural vill leer in rastern Bakhshan province. She holds a master’s degree in international relations and human rights from Geneva’s University of Diplomacy. In August, she survived an assassination attempt with light wounds to her hand. She survived ar armed attack in eastern Kabul in 2010.

She has actively worked for women’s rights since Taliban were in power, including maintaining schools for girls in her own home in Bakhshan province and in capital, Kabul. In 19 years since 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled Taliban, Afghanistan has refused to pass a women’s rights bill. situation for women is even more troubling in roughly half of country that Taliban w control or hold sway over.

Koofi was first female deputy speaker of Afghan parliament and worked for inclusion of a budget in Afghanistan’s financial budget. She was also country’s first female leer of a political party. As he of women and human affairs committee during her second round of service in Afghan parliament, Koofi played an active role in enactment of protective laws for women and children, particularly Law on Elimination of Violence against Women and Law on Protection of Children in Afghanistan.

Last year, Koofi was dropped from list of parliamentary candidates amid a public controversy involving some members of her family. Afghan attorney general's press office did t immediately return calls by AP seeking comment on allegations. Afghan government and Taliban negotiating teams are currently working out a framework to start discussing main nda of bringing an end to deces-long war in Afghanistan. Talks between Afghans on both sides of conflict are a critical part of U.S. peace deal signed with Taliban in February. That deal spells out withdrawal of U.S. troops and gives Afghanistan its best chance at peace.

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