Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe United Nations and several European countries, in response to the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan, have emphasized the need to uphold women’s rights and Afghanistan’s international commitments.
The UN Secretary-General said that the current government in Afghanistan has deprived women and girls of their right to education and work.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said: “ Women and girls, as we have been saying repeatedly, are especially vulnerable in Afghanistan. As you are aware, the de facto authorities have imposed a series of increasingly restrictive policies which have excluded women and girls from education, the workforce and public life.”
Meanwhile, several European countries, including France, Germany, and Ireland, in separate statements, stressed that they will continue working with the European Union and the international community to keep focus on Afghanistan’s situation and to support women, girls, and humanitarian aid to the country.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry said: “The decisions taken by the Taliban over the past year once again show their blatant disregard for the commitments set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2593 of 2021. France continues to call on the Taliban to adhere to these commitments. The ban imposed in December 2024, preventing Afghan women from accessing medical educational institutions, adds to the numerous violations of women’s and girls’ rights committed by the Taliban since taking power, and it is unjustifiable and unacceptable.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister also stressed that Afghanistan’s return to the international community is not possible without respect for human rights.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: “A return to the international community will be impossible unless the Taliban at last uphold international obligations, above all respect for the Afghan people’s human rights.”
Ireland’s Foreign Ministry, in its statement, said: “A secure future can only be achieved through full respect for civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights, as well as commitment to inclusive and representative governance. Ireland co-sponsored and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly Resolution in June, which committed to those same principles.”
Political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi said: “The demand of the Afghan people is also that engagement with the international community should be pursued in ways that do not contradict Islam, so that progress can be made toward recognition.”
The Islamic Emirate enters its fifth year of rule in Afghanistan while the issues of girls’ education and women’s employment remain unresolved. These matters have faced persistent domestic and international criticism over the past four years.