UNAMA Chief: Taliban Should Not Be Recognized Without Addressing Girls’ Education

Bayan News – Rosa Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, says that the Taliban should not be recognized without addressing issues such as girls’ education and the constitution.

She made these remarks on Friday evening (June 21) during the UN Security Council meeting and referred to the Taliban’s presence at the Doha meeting.

The stability of Afghanistan, the public punishment of the Taliban, the constitution, girls’ education, and the formation of an inclusive government were the most important issues mentioned by the UNAMA Chief in her speech at the UN Security Council.

While emphasizing the importance of the Taliban’s presence at the Doha meeting, she stressed that the Taliban should not be recognized until issues such as human rights and girls’ education are clearly defined.

The UNAMA Chief stated that she has discussed the Doha meeting with hundreds of Afghan citizens, especially women’s representatives, in recent weeks.

According to her, these consultations showed a widespread consensus that the Taliban’s presence at the third Doha meeting is important, but the group should not be recognized until issues related to women’s rights, girls’ education, and the constitution are addressed.

Stating that the Doha meeting has created considerable expectations, she added: “We need to remain focused on the stated objective of the independent assessment on Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community, while respecting its international legal commitments.”

Referring to the continued public punishment of the Taliban, Otunbayeva emphasized that this action by the Taliban is in contrast with international human rights laws.

She said the UN Secretary-General is strongly opposed to the death penalty, which is incompatible with the right to life, and calls on all countries that have retained it to stop the executions.

The Taliban have so far publicly flogged hundreds of people and also carried out several public executions.

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