UN Women-led delegation completes 4-day visit to Afghanistan

New Delhi: A UN delegation led by the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, met ruling Taliban authorities in Kabul and called for the immediate reverse of a recent decree banning women from working for national and international non-governmental organizations and accessing education for women in higher studies.

The other members of the UN delegation on their four-day mission to Afghanistan were the Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), Sima Bahous, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political, Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari.

The high-level delegation completed their four-day visit to Afghanistan, visiting Kabul, Kandahar and Herat to appraise the situation, engage de facto authorities and underscore United Nations solidarity with the Afghan people.

The Taliban, a few months ago, closed universities to female students across the country until further notice, and have barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted women and girls' freedom of movement, excluded women from most areas of the workforce and banned women from using parks, gyms and public bath houses.

The most recent decrees issued by the ruling Taliban banning women from working for non-governmental organizations have forced many partners to pause operations which can no longer be safely and meaningfully delivered.

"My message was clear: while we recognize the important exemptions made, these restrictions present Afghan women and girls with a future that confines them in their own homes, violating their rights and depriving the communities of their services," Ms Mohammed said.

During their mission, Ms Mohammed and Ms Bahous met with affected communities, humanitarian workers, civil society and other key actors in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat.

"We have witnessed extraordinary resilience. Afghan women left us no doubt of their courage and refusal to be erased from public life. They will continue to advocate and fight for their rights, and we are duty-bound to support them in doing so," Ms Bahous said.

"What is happening in Afghanistan is a grave women's rights crisis and a wake-up call for the international community. It shows how quickly decades of progress on women's rights can be reversed in a matter of days. UN-Women stands with all Afghan women and girls and will continue to amplify their voices to regain all their rights."

The United Nations and its partners, including national and international non-governmental organizations, are helping more than 25 million Afghans who depend on humanitarian aid to survive and remain committed to staying and delivering.

"The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is predicated on principles that require full, safe and unhindered access for all aid workers, including women," Ms Mohammed said.

The second deputy of the Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, criticized the UN for not giving the seat to the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate and not removing it from the blacklist.

Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, a Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation spokesman, said that Amina Mohammed called for a review of the recent decree of the Islamic Emirate's leadership.

"The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation assured them that the Islamic Emirate is not against the work and education of women," he said.

The UN delegation also met with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the foreign minister of the caretaker government.

Meanwhile, The director-general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has decided to dedicate the 2023 International Day of Education (January 24) to Afghan girls and women.

On the occasion of an event organized at the UN headquarters, UNESCO will immediately renew its call to restore their fundamental right to education, UNESCO said in a statement.

UNESCO said that currently, 80% (2.5 million) of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school because of the decision of the officials of the caretaker government to deny them access to secondary schools and universities.