During a briefing to the ambassadors in the Security Council, Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), discussed the recent arrests of Afghan women for supposed violations of Islamic dress code. She expressed concern over the impact this is having on the wider female population, as many are now afraid to go out in public.

Restricting women and girls’ ability to obtain education and employment and excluding them from public spaces has resulted in significant negative impacts on their mental and physical well-being and ability to support themselves financially.

Qatar talks

Ms. Otunbayeva recalled the second meeting of national and regional special envoys for Afghanistan, held in Doha on 18 and 19 February.

The unofficial leaders declined to join, but they approved the Secretary-General’s declaration about the importance of further talks, according to the ambassador’s update.

SRSG Otunbayeva stated that their choice to decline participation was not a refusal to engage with the global community, but rather a manifestation of their worry that they were not being regarded as an equal participant in discussions concerning Afghanistan.

She emphasized the importance of having sincere consultations rather than simply conveying decisions from the international community.

Negative trends

The leader of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Ms. Otunbayeva, expressed worry about several negative developments that have been witnessed recently.

She stated that through the Mission’s thorough monitoring and efforts in advocacy, including focusing on human rights, it has brought attention to the population’s lack of access to their civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights.

She emphasized the mistreatment of women and girls, open acts of violence such as physical and capital punishment, a limited representation in government, and the exclusion of minority groups.

She stated that although security has improved for many individuals on a daily basis following the Taliban’s takeover, it has come at a great expense.

A persistent challenge

During her briefing, Ms. Otunbayeva declared that Afghanistan continues to pose a persistent challenge for the global community.

The country has a troubled past, marked by chaos and violence, and is responsible for producing 85% of the world’s opium. Additionally, it has experienced a large influx of refugees seeking safety in neighboring nations and beyond.

Although we should acknowledge the current level of stability, it is important to recognize the significant actions taken by the Taliban to reduce opium production and combat Daesh, as stated by Ms. Otunbayeva.

She stated that if the other concerns she brought up are not resolved, these accomplishments will not be sufficient in guaranteeing long-term viability.

/news/multimedia/news/