World

Senior UN Leaders Show Their Support to Afghan Women and Girls, Urge Taliban to Reverse Their Bans — Global Issues


Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed called on the Taliban to reverse decisions restricting the rights of women and girls. CREDIT: United Nations
  • by Naureen Hossain (United Nation)
  • Associated Press Service

The first delegation was led by Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, who appeal to the Taliban overturn decisions that restrict the rights of women and girls.

The delegation led by the Secretary-General also included senior UN leaders; UN-Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous; and Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Politics, Peacebuilding and Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari.

The delegation completed a four-day visit to Afghanistan to assess the current situation and work with the Taliban government. The visit follows a recent Taliban decree banning women from working domestically and internationally. Non-governmental organizations. This is one of the latest in a series of decrees that continue to strip women and girls of the right and means to actively participate in society.

During this mission, Mohammed and Bahous met with affected communities, humanitarian and civil society organizations in the cities of Kabul, Kandahar and Herat.

“My message is clear: while we recognize the important exemptions offered, these restrictions offer Afghan women and girls a future that imprisons them in their own homes. themselves, violate their rights and deprive the community of services,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed later told Al-Jazeera that three NGOs in Afghanistan have continued some work, especially in the health sector. “I think it is because the international community, and especially the sponsoring partners of this program, have been able to point out the meaning and impact of women-to-women services, especially childbirth. child,” she said.

“What is happening in Afghanistan is a serious crisis of women’s rights and a wake-up call for the international community,” Bahous said. “It shows how quickly decades of advances in women’s rights can be reversed in just a few days. UN-Women stands with all Afghan women and girls and will continue to amplify their voices to regain all their rights.”

Recent bans on women working in NGOs have forced these organizations to temporarily suspend operations, which can no longer be safely and meaningfully transferred.

“Effective humanitarian assistance delivery is predicated on principles that require full, safe and unfettered access to all aid workers, including women.” Mohammed said in the official United Nations statement.

On the other hand, statements from Taliban spokespeople and senior government officials have stated that the current administration will react to matters according to the principles of Islamic law, so they declare .

“The international community, countries and stakeholders should also respect the principles, traditions and spirit of our country,” he said. Gemini KamiriTaliban deputy spokesman after the DSG meeting.

The de facto government in Afghanistan has admit that they are depending on international aid to revive a country where more than 28 million people, more than half of their population, are in need. Therefore, these authorities must also be aware that this aid will come with the basic stipulation that all Afghans must be respected for their rights and dignity, including women and girls.

How the United Nations will proceed in its ongoing negotiations with the Taliban will remain to be seen as they continue to reiterate their solidarity with Afghan women and girls.

The UN delegation led by the Deputy Secretary-General also met with partners, civil society and government leaders, including leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank.

Partners and countries understand that United Nations efforts must continue and be enhanced to reflect the urgency of the situation and the immense pressures humanitarian aid workers are facing. .

On Tuesday, UNESCO devoted Afghanistan’s International Day of Education for Women and Girls. In a statement, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay noted that the international community has a responsibility to ensure the immediate restoration of their rights. “Afghanistan’s de facto administration decisions threaten to wipe out the development gains of the past twenty years.” She said in an official statement.

Martin Griffiths, OCHA Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, is in Afghanistan meeting with the Taliban government to review the decree banning Afghans from working in NGOs.

In an interview with the BBC, Griffiths shared that he has received “encouraging responses” from Taliban ministers, saying there is “a consistent pattern of Taliban leaders presenting to us”. I exceptions, exemptions and authorizations for women to work.”

“I think they’re listening and they’re telling me they’re going to issue new guidelines in the near future, which I hope will help us strengthen the role of women,” he said.

He added, “If women don’t work in humanitarian activities, we won’t reach out, we don’t care about the women and girls we need to listen to. Of all the humanitarian activities in the world, women and girls are the most vulnerable.”

The sentiments from UN officials and those shared publicly by the Taliban are clearly at odds. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid organizations have been prevented from providing their full capacity for services, leaving millions of Afghans more vulnerable than before. Meanwhile, women and girls cannot openly protest or protest the loss of their basic right to education without risk violence and detention.

The UN and the international community must continue to listen to and amplify the voices of vulnerable communities and prioritize them in the coming weeks and meetings proposed. As for these promised countermeasures, let’s just hope they don’t wait for the next women’s ban to act.

Report of the UN IPS Office


Follow IPS News UN Office on Instagram

© Inter Press Service (2023) — All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service

newsofmax

News of max: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Matrix Immediate Maximum