UAE, UNAMA Stress Support for Afghan Women and Girls’ Rights

Kabul Times News | Report: Shahbanu Noori

The UAE Mission to the United Nations has announced that Ghassaq Shaheen, Deputy Permanent Representative of the country, met with Georgette Gagnon, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan and the future of the organization’s mission.

According to the official statement of the UAE Mission, the meeting was held on the eve of the consideration of the extension of the UNAMA mission in the UN Security Council, and the two sides emphasized the importance of continuing international efforts to support stability, sustainable development and peace in Afghanistan.

In this meeting, the human rights situation and the rights of Afghan citizens, especially women and girls, were among the main topics of discussion. UAE and UNAMA officials emphasized the need to provide equal opportunities for women’s participation in education, employment and social activities, and considered their role vital in the future and development of Afghanistan.

The two sides also emphasized the continued cooperation of the international community to address humanitarian challenges and support the people of Afghanistan, an issue that has become one of the main priorities of the United Nations in the country in recent years.

These consultations are taking place as the current UNAMA mission ends at the end of this month and the UN Security Council is set to decide on the extension of the institution’s activities in the coming days.

Since the return of T-Alban to power in August 2021, extensive restrictions have been imposed on the education, employment, and social presence of women and girls in Afghanistan; restrictions that have repeatedly faced criticism from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and various countries around the world and continue to be one of the most important issues discussed in international interactions with Afghanistan.

Political observers believe that the fate of the UNAMA mission and the extent of the international community’s support for the rights of Afghan women and girls will be key issues in the future of Afghanistan’s relations with international organizations.

Report: Shahbanu Noori