Bayan News – The Institute for Peace and Global Affairs, in collaboration with several human rights organizations, organized a session to discuss the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan on the occasion of International Women’s Solidarity Day.
In this session, attended by some women’s rights advocates, including Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, they urged the international community not to forget Afghan women and girls.
Malala emphasized the importance of global support for the rights of Afghan women and girls, stating that the lack of support for women sends a destructive message not only to Afghan women and girls but also to girls worldwide.
She said, “It is crucial for us as a global community to stand by them (Afghan women). If we show that we are turning away from Afghan women, it not only sends a negative message to Afghan women and girls but also to girls worldwide.”
Meanwhile, the Institute for Peace and Global Affairs issued an additional statement stating that the Taliban has issued 85 decrees in the past two years to restrict the rights of Afghan women and girls.
The institute has called on the Taliban to revoke these restrictive orders and allow Afghan women and girls to return to public life.
Dorothy Estrada, the head of the UN working group on discrimination against women, said about gender discrimination in this session: “This is the only country in the world that has banned education for women and girls over the age of twelve.
The right to work, access to healthcare, access to justice, freedom of expression — all have been taken away. So, gender apartheid is not just a theoretical construct; it is the lived reality of millions of women and girls.”
rights organizations have intelligence objectives
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, in response to these sessions, stated that most human rights organizations pursue intelligence objectives under the guise of human rights.
Mujahid added to Afghan media outlets that the current government in Afghanistan ensures women’s rights and international organizations should not be concerned about it.
He emphasized that efforts are underway to resolve remaining issues as soon as possible. “They should be assured that the system is responsible to the people and respects people’s rights.”
On International Women’s Day, the policies of the Taliban towards women once again drew the attention of international organizations, who criticized the continuation of these policies.
