NEW YORK, August 15 (IPS) – Written as Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women of the United Nations In the year that has passed since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, we have seen the situation of Afghan women deteriorate. daily and continuously. girls. This has covered every aspect of their human rights, from their standard of living to their social and political status.
It has been a year of growing disrespect for their right to live freely and equally, denying them the opportunity to earn a living, access to health care and education and escape violent situations. force.
The Taliban’s meticulously crafted inequality policies set Afghanistan apart. This is the only country in the world that bans girls from high school. There are no women in the Taliban’s cabinet, no Women’s Ministry, thus effectively eliminating women’s right to participate in politics.
Most women are also restricted from working outside the home and must cover their faces in public and must be accompanied by men when they travel. Furthermore, they continue to suffer many forms of Gender-Based Violence.
The exclusion of women from all aspects of life robs the Afghan people of half the talent and energy. It impedes women’s efforts to build resilient communities and shrink Afghanistan’s post-crisis resilience.
There is a clear lesson from humanity’s overwhelming crisis experience. Without the full participation of women and girls in all aspects of public life, there is little chance of achieving lasting peace, stability and economic development.
That is why we call on the authorities to practically open schools for all girls, remove constraints on women’s employment and their participation in the politics of the country. their countries, and annul all decisions and policies that disenfranchise women. We call for an end to all forms of violence against women and girls.
We call on the authorities to de facto ensure that women journalists, human rights defenders and members of civil society enjoy the right to freedom of expression, access to information and the ability to work. freedom and independence without fear of reprisal or attack.
International community support for women’s rights and public investment in women themselves is more important than ever: in women’s services, jobs and women-led businesses , as well as women leaders and women’s organizations.
This includes not only support for the provision of humanitarian assistance but also ongoing and unrelenting efforts at the political level to bring about change.
UN Women has stayed in the country during this crisis and will continue to do so. We are steadfast in supporting Afghan women and girls alongside our partners and donors.
We are expanding our offering of life-saving services to women, by women, to meet overwhelming demand. We are supporting women-led businesses and job opportunities across all sectors to help lift the country out of poverty.
We are also investing in women-led civil society organizations to support the rebuilding of the women’s movement. As everywhere in the world, civil society is a key driver of progress and accountability on women’s rights and gender equality.
Every day, we campaign to restore, protect and promote the full rights of women and girls. We are also creating space for Afghan women themselves to campaign for their right to live freely and equally.
A year on, with women’s visibility declining and rights severely impacted, it is important to have targeted, substantial and systematic direct funding to address and reverse reverse this situation and facilitate meaningful participation of women in all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including delegations meeting with Taliban officials.
Decades of progress on gender equality and women’s rights were wiped out in just a few months. We must continue to act together, united and united in ensuring respect for the full spectrum of women’s rights, including education, work and participation in public and political life.
We must continue to appeal collectively and repeatedly to the Taliban leadership to fully comply with its binding obligations under the international treaties to which Afghanistan is a party.
And we must continue to raise the voice of Afghan women and girls, who are fighting every day for the right to live free and equal lives. Their war is our war. What happens to women and girls in Afghanistan is our global responsibility.
IPS UN Office
By @IPSNewsUNBureau
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