Afghanistan: High-level UN delegation demands that the Taliban end the detention, deprivation and abuse of women’s rights
deputy secretary generalAmina Mohammed, CEO of UN women, Sima Ba Houand the Assistant Secretary-General for United Nations political, peace-building and peace-building activities, Khaled Khiarispent four days on a fact-finding mission in Afghanistan, interacting with Taliban leaders and “emphasizing the United Nations’ solidarity with the people of Afghanistan,” according to a press release sent to reporters on Thursday. Six.
Call to reverse course
During meetings with the de facto authorities in Kabul and Kandahar, the “delegation direct alarm switch on the recent decree banning women from working for national and international NGOs, a move undermine the work of many organizations that help millions of vulnerable Afghans.”
The latest crackdown on working women comes after the mainstream Taliban’s decrees to close universities from accepting female students until further notice and prevent girls from attending school. high school.
Exclusion from public life
Women and girls have also been ordered to stop using parks, gyms, and public baths, and are banned in most areas of the workforce, along with other restrictions on their right to freedom. due to their travel, consistent with the government’s interpretation of Sharia law.
A ban on local women working in the vital aid sector took effect last month, causing many aid agencies to halt operations due to the inability to reach many disadvantaged families without support. of female employees.
In response, the Taliban rulers announced a number of exemptions that would allow female medical workers to continue their lifesaving work.
All Afghans suffer due to restrictions: Mohammed
“My message is very clear,” the UN deputy secretary-general said. “While we recognize important exemptions being made, these restrictions give Afghan women and girls a future that imprisons them in their own homes, violates their rights and deprives communities of services.“.
“Our shared ambition is for a prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbors, and on a path of sustainable development. But right now, Afghanistan is isolating itself, amid a terrible humanitarian crisis and one of the most vulnerable countries on earth to climate change,” she added. “We have to do everything we can to close this gap.”
During their assignment, Ms. Mohammed and Ms. Bahous met with affected communities, humanitarian workers, civil society and other key actors, in Kabul, the Kandahar center of the Taliban and Herat.
‘Extraordinary resilience’: Bahous
“We have witnessed extraordinary resilience. The women of Afghanistan leave us no doubt in their bravery and refused to be removed from public life. They will continue to support and fight for their rights, and we have an obligation to support them in doing so,” said UN Women’s top executive, Ms. Bahous.
“What is happening in Afghanistan is a A serious crisis of women’s rights and a wake-up call for the international community.
“It shows decades of rapid progress in women’s rights can be reversed in a few days. UN Women stands with all Afghan women and girls and will continue to amplify their voices to regain all their rights.”
UN commitments
The United Nations and its partners, including national and international NGOs, are helping the more than 25 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid to survive, and are committed to staying and delivery.
“While the recent waivers to the ban put in place by the de facto administration are opening the space for humanitarian organizations to continue – and in some cases continue – operations, these are still limited in some areas and activities,” the United Nations statement on Friday said.
Taliban restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan will exclude women from participating in political activities such as voting, just as it did for this woman at the Bamyan polling center for the election. parliament in Afghanistan, held on October 20, 2018.
Need ‘efficient delivery’
“The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is determined by the principles required full, safe and unhindered access for all aid workers, including women‘, said Mrs. Mohammed.
The visit to Afghanistan follows a series of high-level consultations on Afghanistan across the Gulf and Asia, the United Nations reported.
The delegation met with leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Islamic Development Bank, Afghan women’s groups in the Turkish and Pakistani capitals Ankara and Islamabad, and a group of Ambassadors and Special Envoys. envoy to Afghanistan, based in Doha.
“The delegation convened regional government leaders and religious leaders to advocate for the vital role and full participation of women and rally support for the people of Afghanistan.” , the statement added.
Girls play volleyball at a school in Herat, Afghanistan, 2016.
Urgently call for support
During the visits, the important role of the United Nations as a bridge-builder towards “finding lasting solutions” was emphasized, “as well as the urgency of providing lifesaving and effective engagement, led by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).”
The top UN mission called for increased efforts to reflect the urgency of the crisis facing Afghan women and girls, “and underlined the importance of a united community response.” international community.”
The United Nations reported that the proposal to hold an international conference on women and girls in the Muslim world in March this year “was also considered and agreed in principle”.
