Afghan Women Condemn Silence on Taliban Restrictions at UN
BAREEN Media – Afghan women and civil society activists have criticized Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, for not directly addressing the restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan during her speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement, the women said they welcomed Mirziyoyeva’s remarks about women’s political participation in Uzbekistan, but described her silence on Afghan women’s exclusion from education, employment, freedom of movement and public life as disappointing.
They said focusing on Afghanistan through economic cooperation, trade and regional security without addressing the systematic restrictions on women presents an incomplete picture of the country’s situation.
The women called on Uzbekistan, particularly its female officials, to publicly condemn the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls and to ensure that political and economic engagement with the Taliban is accompanied by meaningful progress on women’s rights.
They also called on regional countries to expand educational opportunities for Afghan women and girls and support their meaningful participation in regional and international discussions about Afghanistan’s future.
During her UN speech, Mirziyoyeva said Afghanistan should not be viewed only through the lens of security threats and that the Afghan people should not be left alone to face the country’s challenges.
