Afghanistan has secured a seat at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the first time in its history, the South Asian country's Permanent Mission to the UN announced on Tuesday.

Afghanistan received 39 votes to find a place at the prestigious body, which is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women globally. India also secured a seat.

China was also a contender but failed to secure enough votes. The term will last from 2021 until 2025.

Afghanistan's representative to the UN, Adela Raz, said winning the seat was of "critical importance".

AFG wining w/ the highest votes the competitive CSW election today, represents a victory for the process started 19yrs ago when, along w/our intl partners, we committed to the empowerment of our women. This is of a critical importance during our PeaceTalks to demonstrate d NewAFG https://t.co/gAa9mBVhQW

— Adela Raz (@AdelaRaz) September 15, 2020

Sahraa Karimi, a filmmaker and director of the country's Afghan Film directorate, praised Raz's efforts in winning the seat, adding that: "Afghan women have reached a state where they no longer need to be handed something, they earn it through their own worth.

"The position she [Raz] has won is very important, God willing she will be able to use this opportunity to further highlight the issues of Afghan women, to increase their visibility at a time when we are in the peace negotiations and we need to defend our rights," Karimi told Al Jazeera.

A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said winning a seat on the prestigious commission "means a lot to us".

"Afghan women are not only reshaping the future of Afghanistan and their meaningful role but also will demonstrate their potential globally," Sediq Sediqqi told Al Jazeera.

"Of course, they can defend universal rights of women, but, for sure, firstly they will champion for the women of Afghanistan. This is yet another reminder to the world that our society is being run by women now."

The issue of women's rights in Afghanistan is significant in negotiations between the current Afghan government and the Taliban aimed at bringing an end to conflict in the country.

The so-called intra-Afghan talks being held in the Qatari capital, Doha, come more than six months after the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement to end the 19-year war.

That deal called for the withdrawal of American troops from the country in exchange for a security guarantee from the Taliban, which has waged an armed rebellion since 2001 when it was removed from power in a US-led invasion.

Many Afghan women have shown concern that a US troop withdrawal and the re-emergence of the Taliban in Afghan politics could thwart their efforts to secure more rights for women.

During their six-year reign from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban imposed measures to limit women's rights, banning girls education and employment. But last year, a Taliban official told Al Jazeera that the group would strike a "moderate tone" on women's issues.