In statements on Wednesday, Secretary-General António Guterres, along with deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed, described the latest escalation of the government’s de facto repression of women as a violation of basic human rights. their irrevocable.
“It also violation of Afghanistan’s obligations under international human rights lawAnd violate the principle of non-discriminationIt is the core tenet that underlies the Charter of the United Nations,” Guterres said in a statement issued by his Spokesperson.
Violating the right to increase
Since the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Afghanistan in August 2021, Taliban leaders have gradually eroded the rights of women and girls in public life, introducing a ban on secondary schooling. education, higher education, work for NGOs and their freedom of expression. move.
Bans have been put in place preventing them from working, studying and traveling unaccompanied.
‘Necessary’ for lifesaving operations
The head of the United Nations says that female staff are “essential” to all UN operations, which are directed by the Domestic Assistance Mission, UNAMAand including the provision of life-saving assistance.
“The execution of this decision will harm the people of Afghanistan, millions of people are in need of this support,” the statement said. “General secretary call on the Taliban to immediately withdraw decision and reverse all measures that restrict the rights of women and girls to employment, education and freedom of movement.”
Speaking to journalists at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday ahead of a press conference on sustainability, the Deputy Secretary-General reminded that she has met many women currently facing bans and loss of livelihood, during a visit to Afghanistan at the beginning of the year.
‘Using all measures’ to support female cadres
“We reiterate that both Afghan women and men are essential to every aspect of our work,” she said. taking all possible measures now to support our national female employees at this difficult time.”
She said the UN’s female national staff members will continue to receive their pay, but until it becomes clearer, all national staff – both men and women – are being paid. told not to report to the office.
She said she attended a meeting with the administration’s de facto Foreign Secretary early Wednesday morning and pledged that the UN leadership would “continue to engage” with Taliban representatives, “as well as neighboring countries” to address the latest human rights violations.
An OCHA employee speaks to displaced women in Nangahar province, eastern Afghanistan.
Most Vulnerable
President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösialso strongly condemned the move, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the human rights of women and girls.
“The The consequences of this decision will hurt the people of Afghanistan, especially the most vulnerable segments of the population.,” he said, noting that Afghanistan needs to be on a path towards sustainable development, “and to do that, it should unleash its full potential.”
‘Absolutely despicable’
The United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Türk, described the latest erosion of rights for women in Afghanistan as a move that was “absolutely despicable”.
“This is a system, relentless attack on the Afghan people in general by the Taliban,” he said, who he said appeared to be “working to neutralize, intimidate and harass half the population.”
He called on the leadership to rethink all the restrictive policies put in place to curb women’s rights,” he said.for the future of the country.”
