Being a woman is a crime in Afghanistan: civil society

In Afghanistan, Georgette Gagnon, Acting Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that Taliban authorities are restricting the talent and productive capacity needed for the country’s recovery by depriving women of opportunities for education, employment, and participation in public life.  Briefing the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, she said that cuts in financial support for organizations working for human rights had further worsened the situation.

Over the past year, funding for three-quarters of women-led organizations in Afghanistan has declined, while more than 80 percent of these organizations have reported an increase in the needs of women and girls.  The laws imposed by the Taliban authorities have not only deprived millions of women and girls of opportunities to progress in life, but have also weakened efforts to address the humanitarian crisis.

A woman working with the mission said that being a woman in Afghanistan has effectively become a crime. Whenever one law is enforced, another is introduced. Women who wear the hijab are ordered to cover their faces; those who wear the niqab are told to wear the burqa; burqa-clad women are questioned about why they are not accompanied by a mahram; and those accompanied by a mahram are asked about the nature of their relationship with him.

Economic Pressure and Food Insecurity

Georgette Gagnon said that the mission sees no major armed or political threat to the authorities currently in power. The main threats to the country’s stability are largely driven by the authorities’ own policies. Although a degree of economic stability has been maintained in the country, it cannot be described as an economic recovery. Per capita income has declined by 5.6 percent, while exports have also fallen.  Food insecurity and shortages are a major cause for concern in the country. According to UNICEF, around 3.7 million children are suffering from malnutrition, including approximately one million facing severe forms of malnutrition. This year, only 30 percent of the resources required to meet humanitarian needs have been secured. The decision by Taliban authorities to ban opium cultivation was a positive step, resulting in a significant reduction in poppy cultivation. However, there is a risk that this trend could reverse due to economic pressures.

Georgette Gagnon said that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain a matter of serious concern. Referring to the impact of the tensions between the two countries, which have continued for the past year, and the closure of the borders on civilians, local communities, and business activities, she stressed that international engagement and cooperation through the Doha Process are essential. She also said that the Taliban authorities’ preference for a bilateral approach rather than multilateral engagement on this issue is a major obstacle to progress.

Solidarity with Afghan Women

Before the meeting, France’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Nicolas de Rivière, read a joint statement before journalists alongside the ambassadors of Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives of 36 other member states, expressing full solidarity with Afghan women and girls. De Rivière said that the gender discrimination and systematic and ongoing repression imposed by the Taliban are condemnable. All restrictions on the rights of women and girls must be lifted immediately and without discrimination, and all human rights violations must be brought to an end. He welcomed the appointment of Rabab Fatima as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA in the country, and urged the Taliban authorities to engage meaningfully with the United Nations and remove all restrictions imposed on Afghan women working for the organization.