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UN: Ban on women’s education, work keeps Afghanistan isolated

UN official said Afghanistan could be integrated into the international community if the issue of rights of women is resolved…reports Asian Lite News

The UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan Markus Potzel has said Afghanistan could be integrated into the international community if the issue of female education, and their work for international NGOs, national NGOs, and UN organizations is resolved, Tolo News reported.

Speaking to UN News, Potzel said in a speech that women have the right to participate in society and urged the Taliban to fulfill its international obligations, including ensuring the rights to education and work for its population.

The UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan asked the Taliban to revoke the restrictions on females as soon as possible. “Otherwise, there will always be a shadow on Afghanistan’s relations with the international community,” he said.

Potzel noted, “I think that the de facto authorities in Afghanistan should let girls go to school beyond grade six. They should let girls go to university. They should let women work for international, national, and UN organizations. And they should let women participate in social life. If this happens, I can imagine that Afghanistan would be integrated into the international community again, and international donors would also rethink and probably reinforce engagement with Afghanistan.”

Potzel further stated that UNAMA is attempting to foster cooperation and help the Afghan government get out of isolation.

“We think isolation is not an option, at least not a good option, for the future of Afghanistan,” he said.

According to political experts, Afghanistan may overcome its political isolation by acceding to the legitimate demands of the international community.

“Afghanistan’s problems are internal, political and related to the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate should start a dialogue with the Afghans, and then it is possible for foreigners to interact with them,” said Wahid Faqiri, an international relations expert.

Previously, the Taliban has said that the issue of women in Afghanistan is one of the country’s internal issues and other institutions and countries should not interfere.

Women’s beauty salons targeted

The Taliban has in a new verbal decree, banned women’s beauty salons in Kabul and other provinces across the country, a spokesman for Taliban Ministry of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Akif Mahajar, told TOLO News.

TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul. The Taliban Ministry of Vice and Virtue also ordered the Kabul municipality to bring the new decree of the Taliban leader into effect and cancel the licenses of women’s beauty salons.

“The men are jobless. When men cannot take care of their families, the women are forced to work in a beauty salon to find a loaf of bread. If they are banned there, what can we do?” said Raihan Mubariz, a makeup artist, as per TOLO News.

“We will not get out of the home if men (of the family) have jobs. What can we do? We should starve to death, what should we do? You want us to die,” said a makeup artist.

This comes as the Islamic Emirate has banned girls and women from going to schools, universities and working at NGOs as well as going to public areas such as parks, cinemas and other recreation areas.

Kabul resident Abdul Khabir said: “The government should make a framework for it. The framework should be in a way that neither Islam would be damaged nor the country.”

The imposition of restrictions on Afghan girls and women by the Taliban has sparked reactions at both the national and international levels. (ANI)

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Afghan future being held back by Taliban ban on women

Afghan students attend school in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, March 20, 2022. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua/IANS)

Patel said that not only is the Taliban holding Afghanistan’s future back, but they also continue to stand in the way of their desire for international acceptance…reports Asian Lite News

The US has said that recognition of the Taliban depends on the behaviour of the Taliban leaders towards Afghan women, Khaama Press reported.

Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel said that if Taliban authorities do not respect women’s rights, they will not only make Afghanistan fall behind but also undermine the international legitimacy of this country.

Patel said that not only is the Taliban holding Afghanistan’s future back, but they also continue to stand in the way of their desire for international acceptance and legitimacy.

Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva has said that the “April 5 restrictions against the Afghan women working for the United Nations places a question mark over our activities across the country,” TOLO News reported.

She said the Taliban gave no explanation to the UN for the ban.”We have been given no explanation by the de facto authorities for this ban and assurances that it will be lifted.”

Otunbayeva while speaking at the UN Security Council’s Meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, said that the UN does not want to put the lives of its female staff at risk and therefore asked them to not report to the office and also asked the male staff to stay home to respect non-discrimination. (ANI)

ALSO READ: UNSC to hold meeting on Afghanistan

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Afghan women voice concerns over market limitations

Many Afghan women noted a decline in the market for their handicrafts over the past two years and emphasized the need for support from relevant institutions…reports Asian Lite News

Women in Afghanistan expressed their concerns about the absence of a market for their products on the occasion of World Handicrafts Day, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported.

Many Afghan women noted a decline in the market for their handicrafts over the past two years and emphasized the need for support from relevant institutions. Rokhsar, a female investor with four years of experience in the handicrafts business, called for assistance from the Taliban. She further said, “Women should be supported so they can stand on their own feet and make progress,” TOLO News reported. Benafsha, a businesswoman, said that their business has witnessed a decline ever since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Benafsha further added, “The sales decreased due to the poor economic situation of the people. They cannot afford to buy our products. Also, our products are not sent abroad due to the closure of air corridors for women.”

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the Taliban has the commitment to assist businesswomen and added that they are working to address the issues of women, according to TOLO News.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said, “We fully support women who are engaged in handicrafts business, and we create markets for their handicrafts both inside and outside the country so that they may make an important contribution as a powerful part of the country’s commerce sector.”

Meanwhile, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that women’s chambers of commerce have been open in 16 provinces of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Herat, and Kabul.

Earlier, UNICEF raised concerns that if international non-governmental organisations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to operate in Afghanistan, it will affect highly affect the education of the children in the war-torn nation, TOLO News reported.

Reiterating once again that every child has the right to learn, UNICEF said in a statement that Afghanistan could lose out on quality learning through Community Based Education within a month if international non-governmental organizations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to work.

“As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is deeply concerned about reports that over 500,000 children, including over 300,000 girls, could lose out on quality learning through Community Based Education within a month if international non-governmental organizations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to operate and if handovers to national NGOs are done without comprehensive assessment and capacity building,” the UNICEF said, TOLO News reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Unemployment: Young people fleeing Afghanistan

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OIC concerned over Taliban ban on Afghan women

Afghan women work in a tailor shop in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, April 26, 2022. (Xinhua/IANS)

The OIC’s general secretariat said that the barring of females from state organisations is of grave concern.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called upon the de-facto authorities of Afghanistan to once again revisit the ban on Afghan women staff of the UN agencies in the country from working, TOLOnews reported.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha (Photo: OIC)

Many nations and international organisations have continued to respond negatively to the prohibition. Calling the restrictive measures placed on women and girls regressive for country’s growth, the OIC’s general secretariat said that the barring of females from state organisations is of grave concern, the Afghan news agency said.

Moreover, the German mission for Afghanistan on Twitter also condemned the ban on women working for UNAMA.

“It puts millions in acute danger and blatantly violates human rights. Women are essential to humanitarian assistance,” the German mission said on Twitter, adding, “We are now coordinating further steps with our international partners.”

The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, stated that Afghan women would not be replaced with men.

“Afghan women and men are essential to all aspects of the UN’s work in Afghanistan. As we’ve said repeatedly, Afghan women’s meaningful participation is essential to reach safely and effectively populations in need with principled and quality assistance,” he said, reported TOLOnews.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the situation of women in the country has only got worse. Women in the country are prohibited from leadership posts, and not allowed to work as well as travel unless accompanied by a male companion.

The Taliban promised to reopen all schools on March 23, this year, but, instead, on that day, they closed secondary institutions for girls.

There is still no word on when or if these schools will reopen or if the ban is indefinite.

As women’s education continues to suffer majorly in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in March agreed to send a team of scholars to the country to discuss women’s right to education and work with the regime, TOLOnews reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Afghan women slam Taliban over employment curbs

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Afghan women protest for right to education, work

Taliban fire shots, beat women protesters in Kabul.

The female protestors issued a statement saying the current challenges against women should not be forgotten…reports Asian Lite News

Young Afghani women protested against the Taliban demanding women’s access to education and work on the occasion of International Women’s Day, reported Tolo News.

The protest took place on Wednesday and they called for the removal of restrictions imposed women in Afghanistan. “It is March 8 but women in Afghanistan have no rights to celebrate this day. We are the women who are imprisoned in the country. The restrictions are worsened day-by-day,” said Jolia Parsa, a member of Junbish Itlaf Khodjosh Zanan.

Taliban banned women from attending university last December, nine months after the Islamist group barred girls from returning to secondary schools amid a brutal crackdown on women’s rights since it seized power in 2021.

Taliban also announced a ban on female NGO workers – prompting multiple major foreign aid groups to suspend their operations in the country.

“We want to be provided with our rights to work as in many other countries around the world. We should be able to work in the government and non-government organizations,” said Sufia Arifi, a member of Junbish Itlaf Khodjosh Zanan, reported Tolo News.

The female protestors issued a statement saying the current challenges against women should not be forgotten.

“Our specific request of the international community is to pay necessary attention to the situation of women in Afghanistan,” said Laila Bassim, a protestor, reported Tolo News.

“Today, the gates of gyms, schools, universities and parks have been closed for women,” said Marghlari Faqirzai, a member of Junbish Itlaf Khodjosh Zanan.

Taliban has repeatedly said that they are committed to the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and that their rights are preserved within Islamic laws.

On Monday, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, presented a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva that said the Taliban’s ban on female education “may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity.”

The report listed various other compounding crises, such as the rise in forced and child marriages, sexual abuse and assault, the ban on women from other public spaces like parks and gyms, and other restrictions limiting women’s ability to work and travel independently.

These bans “deepen existing flagrant violations of women’s human rights, already among the most draconian in the world,” the report said.

The Taliban’s return to power preceded a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, worsening issues that had long plagued the country.

After the takeover, the US and its allies froze about USD 7 billion of the country’s foreign reserves and cut off international funding – crippling an economy heavily dependent on overseas aid. (ANI)

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Afghan women raise voices against new restrictions

During the protest on Tuesday, the participants raised slogans such as “we are the voice of hungry people” and “we are awake, we hate discrimination…reports Asian Lite News.

In the wake of several new restrictions imposed by the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, several women staged a protest in Kabul calling for their right to education, employment and social freedom to be honored, the media reported.

In recent days, the Taliban’s Ministry of Virtue and Vice issued a new directive that orders for women who are travelling long distances by road should be accompanied by a male relative, and they should wear a hijab, to cover their head and face, reports TOLO News.

The directive also banned playing music in the vehicles.

It also ordered shops not to show the heads of female mannequins as it is against the Islamic Sharia law.

During the protest on Tuesday, the participants raised slogans such as “we are the voice of hungry people” and “we are awake, we hate discrimination”.

The protesters said that the Taliban are keeping women away from society by imposing such restrictions.

“How can we find a relative to go outside with in urgent moments? They said ‘we are not responsible for your food’, so pay our salaries and we can eat, we are not the women of two decades ago, we will not be silent,” TOLO News quoted Wida, a protester, as saying.

“We gathered to raise voices against restrictions imposed on women; our schools are closed, they took away working opportunities, now they ordered us not to go out of our homes alone, they are talking about the rights described by Islam. Does Islam order that a nation should be hungry, does Islam say to forbid girls from education?” Shayesta, another protester, said.

The protesters also urged the international community not to ignore Afghan women.

“We are half of the society, we are human, we have the right to education and to work, I ask the international community to not recognise this government,” Zahra, also a protestor, told TOLO News.

The protest however did not last long as Taliban forces fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators.

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UN concerned over rapid reversal of Afghan women’s rights

UN concerned over rapid reversal of Afghan women’s rights

United Nations is alarmed by the rapid reversal of Afghanistan women’s rights under the Taliban’s rule that began this year in August…reports Asian Lite News

“UN Women — Afghanistan” issued a “Gender Alert” expressing concerns on the Afghan women’s situation, saying that since August 15, there have been rapid reversals for women across all aspects of Afghan society, according to the Tolo News.

Further, the UN report was meant to “document and analyze” the “rapidly evolving Afghan context” on Afghan women’s rights and gender equality.

UN concerned over rapid reversal of Afghan women’s rights

“Since 15 August 2021, there have been immediate and dramatic reversals on women’s rights and fundamental freedom, particularly impacting their right to work, access to education, basic health and protection services, and participation of women and girls in the public sphere and decision-making mechanism,” the report emphasized.

Meanwhile, it’s noted that under the Taliban’s rule the status of Afghan women has yet to be clarified.

According to the Gender Alert report, Taliban’s assurance that the rights of women and girls will be respected under Islamic Law, “there is a rapid reversal of their rights across all areas of life.”

Also, the UN report mentioned that approximately 60 percent of out-of-school children are girls.

“US$ 1 billion or up to 5% of the GDP is the estimated immediate economic loss of restricting women from working,” the report cited in a graph.

“This Gender Alert also explores how the rights of women and girls are interconnected, meaning that rapid improvement across the full spectrum of women’s rights is urgently needed,” the report said.

The report also proposed support to “rebuild the Afghan women’s movement”, “support services for women by women,” and the “monitoring (of) human rights.”

Rapid migration

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern on rapid migration under the Taliban’s rule from Afghanistan to neighbouring countries such as Iran.

A senior UN official urged the Islamic Emirate and the international community to find a ‘modus operandi’ to tackle the current crisis in Afghanistan, according to Tolo News.

Further, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, warned that the economic collapse of the country would trigger a massive wave of migration to the neighbouring and world countries.

“Ultimately, the Taliban, who are in control of the country today, and the international community and its entities need to find a modus operandi, need to co-exist with each other, need to make the necessary steps for that to happen,” he told the UN Security Council.

“The Taliban of course by delivering on the all-important issues of the rights of women, women at work, rights of minorities–and the international community by supporting it as it needs to happen, the functioning of the state and all of this for the sake of the Afghan people,” he added.

The UN and other humanitarian organizations are expressing grave concern over the deterioration of living conditions in Afghanistan as thousands of people still lack access to proper shelter in wintertime, according to the Tolo News.

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Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that over 1,000 Afghans had been illegally crossing the borders to Iran.

However, it’s believed that the formation of a strong economic system could overcome the current situation in Afghanistan besides help from overseas donors.

According to the UNHCR, 3.4 million Afghan refugees are living in Iran, of whom two million lack legal documents (ANI)

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Afghan Women Dare Taliban

The protesters said that the silence of the UN against the ongoing situation in Afghanistan is “shameful”…reports Asian Lite News

A number of women took to the streets of Kabul on Tuesday to protest against the closed schools for girls and accused the international community of being silent about what is going on in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The women who had gathered at the gates of UNAMA in Kabul said that the international community, human rights group, and the United Nations are completely indifferent to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on Afghan women.

The protesters said that the silence of the UN against the ongoing situation in Afghanistan is “shameful”.

ALSO READ: Record 22.8 mn people in Afghanistan to face starvation

The women chanted “rights to education, rights to work, are the fundamental rights of women” and “history will be ashamed of the silence of the UN”.

In the meantime, the Afghan women wanted to get a chance to meet with the head of UNAMA Deborah Lyons to talk to her about women’s rights and to submit her letter in this regard, the report said.

In a parallel all-women demonstration in Kabul, women asked for the opening of schools for girls and said that their rights should not be violated.

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Afghan women hold protest demanding political, social inclusion

During the protest, a former government employee also expressed frustration with the Taliban and said that the government formed by the group will collapse if women are not included in decision making….reports Asian Lite News

Dozens of Afghan women activists on Sunday held protests in Afghanistan demanding political and social inclusion.

These women sought female representation in the caretaker government of the Taliban and said that they will not stop resisting until their role in the new government is clarified, Tolo News reported.

“Today, October 10, is World Women Solidarity Day with Afghan Women. And women from over 100 countries are due to protest in support of Afghan women,” a protester said.

“The Taliban repeatedly say that women have the right to education, work and political inclusion in the government, and they should show it in practice,” another protester said.

The Taliban have been continuously trying to portray a good image in front of the world while promising rights to women and minorities but the on-ground situation in Afghanistan shows that all these are mere words by the Taliban.

During the protest, a former government employee also expressed frustration with the Taliban and said that the government formed by the group will collapse if women are not included in decision making.

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the group’s regime.

Days ago, veteran women’s rights activist Mehbouba Siraj had also urged the international community to fully support Afghan women amid the deteriorating situation in the war-torn nation, reported Pajhwok Afghan News.

No recognition to Taliban from US

The United States would not be formally recognising the Taliban, but would be providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, announced Taliban following talks in Qatar, reported international media.

The Doha talks were the first face-to-face meetings between senior representatives of the Taliban and a US delegation since American troops withdrew from Afghanistan in late August. Citing statement, the Taliban said that their discussions “went well.”

The statement said the US agreed to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while the Taliban also said that they would “facilitate principled movement of foreign nationals”, The Hill reported.

On Saturday (local time), a State Department spokesperson said that one of the US’ key priorities was the “continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of US and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country.”

According to The Hill, the State Department spokesperson said that “this meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy.”

Despite promises from the Taliban that it would not allow for terrorism to fester in the country, the spokesperson’s remarks followed a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan’s Kunduz that killed over 40 people and injured many others on Friday — an attack that ISIS-K later took responsibility for.

The delegations of the Taliban and the US have held their first meeting in Qatar’s capital Doha, in a bid to turn the “new page on their relationship”. (ANI)

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European group names 11 Afghan women for human rights award

The Sakharov Prize was awarded for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko…reports Asian Lite News

The Socialists and Democrats Group on Monday nominated eleven Afghan women for the 2021 Sakharov Prize in the European Parliament.

This prize is the highest honour by the European Union to human rights defenders who are also the victims of human rights abuses.

These Afghan women are both human rights defenders and have been victims of human rights abuses. The nominated women are activists, politicians, journalists and teachers who have been fighting for women’s rights, and were themselves part of the political and associative life in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover of Kabul, The Socialists and Democrats Group informed in a tweet.

“Today we presented our nominees for the 2021 #SakharovPrize: A collective of 11 prominent Afghan Women who have been bravely fighting for equality and full enjoyment of human and fundamental rights in Afghanistan,” the tweet said.

“By nominating them, we are sending a message to the international community: We must defend the rights and freedoms of women and the whole population of Afghanistan,” the European group said in a series of tweets.

The Sakharov Prize was awarded for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko.

The Sakharov Prize for ‘Freedom of Thought’ is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.

It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes.

These women have been nominated for the prize to send a message to the international community that the world should defend the rights and freedoms Afghans at stake after the Taliban’s takeover, The Socialists and Democrats Group informed. (ANI)

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