On the eve of the Doha meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter that “reversing all measures that restrict women’s rights to work is key to reaching the millions of people in Afghanistan that require humanitarian assistance.”
“Afghans urgently need emergency aid. Women are essential to ensure it’s delivered,” he said.
“Restriction of women’s work in UN offices means the tension between the United Nations and the current Afghan government increased,” said Suraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist.
In a meeting with Mawlawi Zakir, head of the political deputy PM’s office, UNAMA’s acting political head Scott Smith asked the Islamic Emirate to take steps in the field of women’s education and work, the Arg tweeted.
“The bilateral relations between the Islamic Emirate and the United Nations, humanitarian aid for Afghans, the issue of Afghanistan’s recognition, and preparations for the United Nations meeting in Doha were discussed during the meeting,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, head of the media directorate of the political deputy of the PM.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy asked the UN to refrain from making humanitarian help reliant on political and cultural issues.
“Assisting the people of Afghanistan is the responsibility of the international community. It is wrong to make help conditional due to political and cultural issues, and help to the people of Afghanistan should continue,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy.
This comes as the UN Security Council unanimously condemned on Thursday an Afghan interim administration ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan and called on Islamic Emirate leaders to “swiftly reverse” a crackdown on the rights of women and girls.
