Solidarity, Trust-Building Strategy and the Path Forward
Executive Summary
On 12 June 2026, the Afghan Women Coordination Umbrella (AWCU), in partnership with WILPF Geneva, Dialogue Hub for Common Ground, and PEN Norway, convened a one-day conference in Oslo, Norway, under the title “Unbroken Voices: Solidarity, Trust-Building Strategy and the Path Forward.” Dialogue Hub for Common Ground was honored to contribute as a partner in organizing and facilitating this important gathering, which brought together 21 participants (20 women and 1 man) representing diverse generations, ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, and political perspectives from across the Afghan diaspora.
The conference provided a meaningful platform to strengthen collaboration, solidarity, trust-building, and collective advocacy for Afghan women and girls. Through the joint efforts of the partner organizations, the event created space for dialogue, reflection, relationship-building, and strategic discussion among Afghan women activists, organizations, and community representatives.
Representatives from AWCU, the Women’s Justice Movement led by Hoda Khamosh, and Dialogue Hub for Common Ground shared their experiences, initiatives, and perspectives while engaging participants in discussions on women’s rights, political participation, movement-building, and diaspora coordination. The Tabasoom Cultural Association also presented its efforts to preserve Afghan cultural heritage and strengthen community cohesion among the Afghan diaspora in Norway, highlighting the importance of partnership, civic engagement, and cultural preservation.
Rather than being a traditional conference centered on speeches and presentations, the gathering was designed as a participatory space for collective learning, open dialogue, trust-building, and joint advocacy. Following opening reflections and keynote contributions, participants engaged in four facilitated working groups to explore the meaning of solidarity in today’s context, identify practical strategies to strengthen cooperation, examine challenges facing Afghan women and civil society, and develop principles for rebuilding trust among activists, organizations, networks, coalitions, and platforms.
The discussions resulted in a clear and practical roadmap for 2026–2027. Participants reached broad agreement that sustainable advocacy requires trust, solidarity, inclusive leadership, and coordinated action grounded in feminist principles, while ensuring that the voices and experiences of women inside Afghanistan remain central.
The conference also generated concrete outcomes, including the establishment of a dedicated WhatsApp coordination group, agreement to hold monthly online coordination meetings, identification of shared advocacy priorities, and strengthened relationships among participants who rarely have opportunities to connect across generational, political, and organizational differences.
Dialogue Hub for Common Ground, together with its partners, remains committed to supporting spaces that encourage meaningful dialogue, bridge-building, collaboration, and collective action among Afghan women and civil society actors.
