Kabul: Calling on the Taliban to roll back restrictions on women and girls, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, warned that the longer these restrictions remain in place, “the more damage will be done,” according to TOLOnews. .
He said the question of recognition and the role of the special envoy to Afghanistan are on the agenda.
hope for recognition
Speaking at a press conference after the end of the UN Security Council meeting on the state of affairs in Afghanistan, Otunbayeva said they hoped to continue the issue of recognition and the work of the special envoy at the third meeting in Doha.
According to TOLOnews, some members of the Security Council and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the full observance of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan also underlined the importance of human rights problems, which is one of the primary agendas of the meeting.
“At present many women are afraid of going to public places. I take this opportunity to urge the actual authorities to reverse these sanctions. The longer these restrictions on women and girls continue, the greater the harm will be,” said Roza Otunbayeva.
Doha's third meeting
Otunbayeva believes that the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in June this year.
“We are going to have another Doha meeting in the future, and I hope that the issue of accreditation and the role of the Special Envoy will be maintained, which is now on the agenda. This is exactly how we have to work on this unity,” Otunbayeva said.
Taliban detaining women
Meanwhile, US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Robert Wood claimed that the Taliban are also detaining women who are not legally required to wear hijab.
He said, “The Taliban is also detaining women who are not legally required to wear hijab. The United States is working with Afghan women to prepare for the day when they can fully participate in society,” TOLOnews reported.
Lift the ban on women working in Afghanistan
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, had in December last year urged the Taliban to lift the ban on women working in non-governmental organizations.
He stressed that women are vital to the economy and their contribution is essential for the well-being and progress of Afghan society.
In a post shared on X, Richard Bennett said, “A year ago, the Taliban banned women from working in NGOs. I once again urge lifting the ban. Education and work are important for a full and dignified life, women are important for the economy; And their contribution is essential for the well-being and progress of Afghan society.”
The Taliban have restricted media freedom and banned women from visiting public places such as parks and gyms. These actions have sparked a harsh international reaction, isolating the country at a time when its economy is rapidly declining and the humanitarian crisis is growing.
In particular, since the takeover, the Taliban leadership has consistently issued severe orders restricting Afghan women and girls' access to education and employment.
Since the Taliban took power in August 2021 after the US exited the country, women are not allowed to work in the education sector, in gyms or in public places, including with domestic and international organizations.