KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Members of the Purple Saturdays Movement have called for the removal of Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and demanded an end to the United Nations’ engagement policy with the Taliban.
In a statement on Saturday (December 14), the movement, an Afghan women’s protest group formed in response to the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights, responded to Otunbayeva’s remarks at the recent UN Security Council meeting, where she advocated for continued international engagement with the Taliban.
The protesters accused Otunbayeva, who is also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, of failing to fulfill UNAMA’s mandate to protect human rights, particularly women’s rights.
“Ms. Roza Otunbayeva has failed or refused to carry out this mission over the past three years,” the statement read. “We demand her replacement with a qualified individual who upholds transparency, impartiality, and human rights principles to restore UNAMA’s credibility.”
The group urged the United Nations to “review its policies” on the Taliban and end efforts to “whitewash” or justify the group’s actions.
According to the statement, UNAMA’s lenient approach has emboldened the Taliban, enabling further repression.
“Instead of opposing the blatant violations of human rights, UNAMA’s conciliatory stance has normalized relations with the Taliban, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars under the guise of humanitarian aid, and neglected Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crises.”
The movement stressed that engagement has not fostered reform. “Rather than encouraging flexibility, it has allowed the Taliban to violate human rights, particularly women’s rights, with impunity and without accountability,” the statement continued.
The Purple Saturdays Movement warned of further action if their demands are ignored. “If UNAMA continues to support the Taliban under the pretense of engagement, we will submit an official petition to the UN Secretary-General, demanding the non-renewal of UNAMA’s mandate and the closure of its offices in Afghanistan.”
The group also called on international human rights organizations to pressure the UN to fulfill its responsibility to uphold human rights standards in Afghanistan.
At the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Otunbayeva said that engagement with the Taliban is necessary to prevent Afghanistan’s isolation and a return to conflict. She clarified that engagement does not equate to “normalization” or “recognition” of the Taliban.
However, activists and women’s groups have repeatedly criticized UNAMA’s policies, accusing the mission of “whitewashing” the Taliban.
