Eleven of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council have called on the Taliban fundamentalist movement to lift its veto on women’s participation in secondary and university education and their work as humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan.
Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States, expressed «their grave concern about the critical situation of women and girls in Afghanistan», according to the conclusions of the Security Council meeting of last Friday, collected by the permanent mission of Switzerland to the international institution.
«We urge the Taliban to immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls, adhere to their commitments set out in UNSC 2593 and respect the rights of women and girls, and their full, equal and meaningful participation and inclusion in all aspects of society in Afghanistan,» they add.
The signatories understand that women are a «key» element in operations to alleviate the humanitarian situation because of their access to populations that their male counterparts cannot reach. «Without their participation in the delivery of aid in Afghanistan and their essential expertise, NGOs will not be able to reach those most in need, particularly women and girls, to provide life-saving materials and services,» they say.
«We reiterate the Council’s demand to all parties to allow full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, regardless of their gender,» they add.
Finally, the signatories recall that «a stable, economically viable and peaceful Afghanistan is only achievable and sustainable if all Afghans, including women and girls, have access to education.»
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
