Speaking from Kabul, where she is listening to women share their experiences – and speak to the real Taliban government about the urgent, critical need to end the egregious human rights abuses that women and girls face – Ms. Bachelet said Afghan women have been threatened and attacked for speaking out, and being excluded from positions of power.
Brave supporters
“But this hasn’t stopped them from courageously advocating for their rights and creating support networks,” she said. “They are not passive bystanders.”
Indeed, in the face of war, extreme poverty and unspeakable violence, she says Afghan women have work tirelessly to protect and provide for their families and communities.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that girls should go to school and university, and be empowered to make a powerful contribution to the future of the country.
Women should be clearly represented in the police force, the courts of law, Government and the private sector – indeed in all areas of civic and public life.
Furthermore, Afghan women have an equal right to protest peacefully without fear of reprisal, to talk openly about problems in society and to have a meaningful seat at the table, to offer solutions. solutions to their realities and needs, she said.
Formerly Minister of Defense and Minister of Health in her native Chile, Ms speak She said from experience understanding that sustainable peace, economic development and the realization of rights to health care, education, justice “and more” require the inclusion of women and girls. .
To celebrate International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, “I stand with women around the world,” she said. “And I stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan, today and every day.”
Denial of rights, inhibiting development
Earlier in the week, Deborah Lyons, Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) insist on March 8 that the denial of women’s freedoms to move, work, participate in public life and education, is limiting greater economic development for the country.
“More needs to be done to promote equality of opportunity for women and girls in all areas of life,” she stressed, Mariam Safi, who spoke at the conference. Security Council above March 2 – noting the rapid deterioration of women’s rights since the Taliban took power, in August 2021. “Suppression of women’s rights seems to be central to the Taliban’s vision for Afghanistan,” she warned. .
© UNICEF / Frank Dejo
Young girls working on a robotics project in Afghanistan.
A quest to join
Peace building in Afghanistan has been infiltrated, outside-oriented, top-down and technocratic for two decades, she said, as powerful nations exploited the process for their own ends.
With those conditions, UNAMA There must be a clear mandate to support the full, safe, equal and meaningful participation of women in all processes, she added.
