The Second Annual People-to-People Dialogue was held between Australia and Afghanistan from 6th to 14th of March, with the central theme being Women’s Empowerment. As part of this, a delegation of nine talented Afghan women representing a range of professional backgrounds visited Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. These visits allowed the delegation to engage with a variety of government bodies, think-tanks, universities and diaspora communities. The visit also allowed the Delegation to celebrate International Women’s Day with the Embassy and its staff and friends. 

The aim and outcome of the Dialogue was to highlight women’s contributions and involvement across various sectors, as well as the visions, roles and challenges of Afghan women in the peace negotiations and post-reconciliation era. At each of the diverse visits, which included the NSW Chamber of Commerce, DFAT, ACFID and the Governor of NSW, the delegates spoke about their personal experiences and the successes and challenges of women in each of the represented fields. The delegation also had an opportunity to engage in cultural activities and learn about the Indigenous heritage of Australia, as well as the diverse multicultural society it is home to today. 

The Embassy would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs for its cooperation in planning and running the Dialogue, and also to each of the bodies in all three cities for their hospitality in hosting the delegates and engaging in the process of sharing and learning, which is so central to the strength of the Australian-Afghanistan bilateral relationship. 

For more information and to follow updates of the visit, please visit the official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts and follow #AusAfghanDialogue.