The United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed has called on International community to help bridge the gap of Afghan people becoming isolated, saying that the country is now isolating itself, in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis.
In her note to Correspondents on Friday, when she led UN High level delegation to Afghanistan to meet the de facto Taliban authorities to reverse course on recent degrees limiting women’s and girl’s rights, adding that the country must not be abandoned.
The UN delegates which consists of the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political, Peace- building Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari.
Completed a four-day visit to appraise the situation, engage de facto authorities, underscore UN solidarity with the Afghan people and conveyed the alarm over the recent decree banning women from working for national and international non- governmental organizations, moves which the UN says it undermining the work of numerous organizations helping millions of vulnerable Afghans.
Also, the recent moved to close universities to female students until further notice, and have barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted women and girls’ freedom of movement, excluded women from most areas of the workforce and banned women from using parks, gyms and public bath houses.
According to the UN Deputy Chief, “My message was very clear: while we recognize important exemptions made, these restrictions present Afghan women and girls with a future that confines them in their own homes, violating their rights and depriving the communities of their services.
“Our collective ambition is for a prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, and on a path to sustainable development. But right now, Afghan is isolating itself, in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis and one of the most vulnerable nations on earth to climate change. We must do everything we can to bridge this gap.”
Mohammed stated further that the most recent decrees issued by the de facto authorities banning women from working for NGOs has forced many partners to pause operations which can no longer be safely and meaningfully delivered.
“While the recent exemptions to the ban introduced by the authorities are opening spaces for humanitarians to continue – and in some cases resume – operations, these remain limited to few sectors and activities.
“The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is predicated on principles that require full, safe and unhindered access for all aid workers, including women”, Ms Mohammed said.
During their meeting with affected communities, humanitarian workers, civil society and other key actors, in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous said, “We’ve witnessed extraordinary resilience.
“Afghan women left us no doubt of their courage and refusal to be erased from public life. They will continue to advocate and fight for their rights, and we are duty bound to support them in doing so. What is happening in Afghanistan is a grave women’s right crisis and a wakeup call for the international community.
“It shows how quickly decades of progress on women´s rights can be reversed in a matter of days. UN Women stands with all Afghan women and girls and will continue to amplify their voices to regain all their rights,” Ms Bahous said.
Meanwhile, the visit to Afghanistan followed a series of high-level consultations across the Gulf and Asia as the delegation met with the leadership of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Islamic Development Bank, groups of Afghan women in Ankara, Islamabad, a group of Ambassadors and Special envoys to Afghanistan based in Doha.
Also, the delegation convened with government leaders from the region and religious leaders to advocate for the crucial role and full participation of women and rally support for the Afghan people.
Throughout the visits, countries and partners recognized the critical role of the UN in building bridges to finding lasting solutions, as well as the urgency to deliver lifesaving support and maintain effective engagement, led by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
