Millions of people in Afghanistan depend on humanitarian aid. But the Taliban banned women from working for aid organisations. UN Secretary-General Guterres strongly condemned the crackdown at a conference.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres found clear words at the end of the meeting in Doha. He condemned the Taliban’s ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations and international aid agencies. This is unacceptable and endangers human life.
“I want to make clear that we will never remain silent in the face of unprecedented, systematic attacks on the rights of women and girls,” said the UN Secretary-General. “We will always raise our voice when millions of women and girls are silenced and erased from the scene. This is a flagrant violation of basic human rights.”
Consulting behind closed doors
Since taking power two years ago, the Taliban have systematically excluded women and girls from public life. Guterres said the aim of the two-day meeting in Doha was to find a common international approach to dealing with the Taliban.
It was not about possible recognition of the de facto government of the Taliban. Guterres had invited representatives from about 20 countries and international organizations to the consultations behind closed doors.
Guterres said participants agreed that an engagement strategy that would enable stability in Afghanistan and address important concerns is also necessary. “Participants are concerned about stability in Afghanistan and have expressed these serious concerns.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations at the conference expressed concern about the stability of Afghanistan.
And excluded the Taliban from the meeting
Apparently, Guterres deliberately did not invite the Taliban to the consultations. A spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan criticized it as discriminatory and unjustified. During the press conference, a reporter asked under what circumstances the UN Secretary-General will confront the Taliban.
Guterres answered evasively. “Of course, when the time is right, I will not turn down the opportunity — today is not the time.” Afghanistan is currently experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. According to United Nations estimates, two-thirds of the population depends on humanitarian aid for their survival.
Guterres stressed that the task of the United Nations now is to maintain its commitment in Afghanistan. You have to learn lessons from the past. He announced that there should be another meeting in the future.