The unanimous 15-0 Security Council vote, with the United States, Russia and China all in favor, was a sign of the widespread global concerns over the Taliban’s actions.
Afghanistan
When the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan after two decades of war, they initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. But there has been a growing international outcry as Taliban leaders have gradually re-imposed their severe interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, on women and girls.
“We remain committed to ensuring all rights of Afghan women while emphasizing that diversity must be respected and not politicized,” the ministry said in a statement. Under Taliban rule, girls have been barred from school beyond the sixth grade and women are now virtually confined to their homes, unable to go out and travel without a male guardian. In late December, the Taliban banned national and international aid groups from employing Afghan women and on April 4 they extended that ban to Afghan women working for the United Nations.
Female staff members are essential to executing life-saving U.N. operations on the ground, Dujarric said, stressing that out of Afghanistan’s population of about 40 million people, “we’re trying to reach 23 million men, women and children with humanitarian aid.” Before the review is completed, secretary-general Guterres will host an international meeting on Afghanistan in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on May 1-2. U.N. spokesman Dujarric said last week that the closed meeting will be attended by envoys on Afghanistan from various countries with the aim of seeking a “durable way forward” for the country.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Security Council condemns Taliban ban on Afghan women working for UNThe resolution - drafted by the UAE and Japan - describes the ban as 'unprecedented in the history of the United Nations.'
Read more »
Woman arrested after attacking, biting TSA officer at airport checkpointThree Transportation Security Administration officers were allegedly attacked by a woman going through security.
Read more »
Woman arrested after attacking, biting TSA officer at airport checkpointIn an interview with detectives, the woman shared that she was mad about having to leave security to get food and then come back through security. She denied biting any of the agents.
Read more »
UN urges Afghanistan's Taliban to reverse bans on womenThe U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to swiftly reverse their increasingly harsh restrictions on women and girls, which range from very severely restricting education to banning women from most jobs, public spaces and gyms. The council condemned the Taliban's ban on women working for the U.N., a decision the resolution calls “unprecedented in the history of the United Nations.”
Read more »
Afghan Women Leaders Ask the U.N. Not to Recognize the TalibanIn an open letter to the United Nations, Afghan women demand that the organizations stand “firm on their commitment” to not recognizing the Taliban as the official rulers of Afghanistan.
Read more »