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Afghanistan Special Envoys Should Hold Firm Line on Rights — Global Issues


  • Opinion by Patricia Gossman (Brussels, Belgium)
  • Associated Press Service

The two-day meeting comes a week after confusing messages from the United Nations that could directly influence next steps to help Afghans in need.

On April 18, the Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Achim Steiner warning that unless the Taliban revoke the ban on Afghan women working for the UN, the UN is “ready to make the heartbreaking decision to withdraw from the country.”

The next day, UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed propose member states use the little leverage they have at their disposal to explore “immature moves” that could lead the Taliban “to the path of recognition.”

There is certainly a solution between the threat of a full UN withdrawal and a recognized carrot. And it seems the envoys are expected to find it.

Unfortunately, divisions among special envoys over the Taliban approach mirror divisions within the United Nations Security Council. China, Russia and Japan want the UN to focus on aid and Afghanistan Economic Crisis. The United States, United Kingdom and France have pushed a hard line with the Taliban on human rights.

In March, when the Security Council passed a resolution expanding the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, it passed the second resolution calls for an independent review of UN activities in search of “an integrated and coherent approach… to address current challenges.”

While China and Russia sought to evaluate more broadlyThe United States and Great Britain signaled skepticism about what had emerged.

Meanwhile, the Taliban’s latest restrictions are disastrous for the people of Afghanistan, two thirds of them dependent on food aid, most of them women and girls.

The Taliban’s increasingly repressive stance bans women from working for humanitarian organizations.except in health and primary education) and the United Nations, have forced aid agencies and organizations to choose between ending their programs or negotiating ways to provide life-saving assistance without compromising principles. This is not a choice they should make.

Envoys should make this clear in Doha and maintain the firm view that only a reversal of the Taliban’s oppressive policies will open the door for further engagement.

Patricia Gosman is the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch. Prior to joining HRW, Dr. Gossman was the Director of the Afghanistan Program at the International Center for Transitional Justice on Afghanistan, and the founder and director of the Afghan Justice Project, an OSI-funded project to chronicles war crimes committed during the Afghanistan conflict, 1978-2001.

IPS UN Office


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

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