GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Special Envoys and Representatives for Afghanistan from G7+ countries convened in Geneva last Monday to discuss the worsening humanitarian and human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The meeting, which also included observers from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the World Bank, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), highlighted several concerns, with the most pressing being the Taliban’s new ban on women and girls attending public and private medical training institutions.
This decision, announced in early December, has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, which expressed fears it will have devastating consequences for the Afghan healthcare system and the well-being of the Afghan people.
In a joint statement on December 20, the G7+ group expressed “grave concern” over the ban and emphasized its potential to further destabilize an already fragile healthcare system. “This new ban will have a particularly devastating impact on mothers and infants, both born and unborn, as well as boys and girls,” the statement read.
The G7+ also called for the “immediate reversal of these unacceptable practices and policies,” noting that the ban adds to over 80 repressive decrees by the Taliban aimed at excluding women and girls from education, public life, and economic participation.
In addition to the educational restrictions, the group also voiced concern over the continued security threats in Afghanistan, particularly terrorist attacks in Kabul and the broader region. “Some terrorist groups still reside safely inside Afghanistan and continue to plan and execute internal and cross-border attacks,” the statement noted.
The Special Envoys and Representatives also stressed the need for a “credible and inclusive national dialogue” to establish a constitutional order in Afghanistan that respects human rights and meets the country’s international obligations.
“The work of international NGOs and UN agencies remains indispensable in supporting the Afghan people through this ongoing crisis,” the statement emphasized, highlighting the importance of providing aid to vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities.
The Special Envoys and Representatives affirmed their intention to meet again in the near future to continue discussions on Afghanistan’s evolving situation.
