WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed calls for stronger support for women in Afghanistan, advocating for their rights and inclusion at every opportunity.
Speaking at the UN Security Council’s open debate on women, peace, and security on Thursday, October 24, the UN deputy chief emphasized the importance of women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in political and public life.
“In Afghanistan, the regression of women’s rights highlights the severe impact of excluding women from governance – and society altogether,” Ms. Mohammed said.
“It is imperative that we reinforce our resolve to support women in Afghanistan and elsewhere, advocating for their rights, agency, and inclusion at every opportunity.”
“Collective action and solidarity are crucial,” she emphasized.
Addressing the council, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous expressed concern about the plight of Afghan women and girls, whom she described as prisoners in their own homes.
“We recall the fear of millions of Afghan women and girls robbed of an education, a future, and a voice, how they suffocate in silence – prisoners in their own homes,” she said.
Since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban, based on their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, effectively excluding them from public life, including education and employment. The recently enacted morality laws have further intensified these restrictions, with experts warning that they will lead to increased repression.
UN experts, legal scholars, and activists agree that the Taliban’s policies and practices amount to a system of apartheid intentionally designed to subjugate them based on gender.
The Taliban’s restrictive measures on women and girls have severely impacted their lives, leaving them feeling hopeless, depressed, and struggling with mental health issues.
In a report released last month, UN Women revealed that 90% of women and girls describe their mental well-being as poor or very poor, with conditions worsening each quarter.
Presenting the report to the UN Security Council, the UN Women chief highlighted the potential implications of the Taliban’s extreme policies, emphasizing that they inspire other oppressive actors and armed groups worldwide, who are closely monitoring the global community’s response.
“I assure you, if we give up on Afghan women, if we succumb to fatalism, let go of our principles, turn our faces, and remove our resources, the impact on our broader struggle for gender equality may be felt for decades,” she said.
