Protesting the UN’s inability to defend women’s rights in the face of Taliban’s restrictions, the Afghanistan Women Protester Movements Coalition in a press conference in Kabul on Monday demanded the closure of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The coalition criticized the UN’s effectiveness in protecting the rights of its female employees and called on the organization to suspend its operations in Afghanistan until women are allowed to work. “Stop political engagement and suspend UNAMA operations in Afghanistan. If you can’t defend the rights of your staff, you cannot be effective.”
Moreover, the women protesters accused the UN and international community of being too flexible in their dealings with the Taliban and called on them to take unified and strong action and hold the Taliban accountable. “Abandon unconditional engagement with the Taliban and use all means and leverage to hold them accountable for their human rights violations.”
The women protestors have contended that the United Nations was created with the purpose of fostering and maintaining global peace and preventing war among nations. However, Afghanistan is currently devoid of peace, and the country is embroiled in conflict with various factions and groups. As such, they assert that the UN mission in Afghanistan is being challenged.
The coalition also criticized the UN for being silent in the face of numerous human rights violations in Afghanistan, including forced migration, the killing of former soldiers, torture, and the suppression of civil activists.
The Taliban’s ban on women working for the UN offices has been met with global condemnations, but the group has not backed down from its decision yet. In response, the UN has asked all its employees not to come to work until further notice.
