We, the signatories of this statement, represent Afghan civil society, including women’s rights defenders and women protesters inside and outside Afghanistan, Afghan civil society organizations, and International human rights organizations who are deeply concerned about the implications of the Taliban’s recent ban on the employment of women in UN agencies. This recent announcement by the Taliban is heinous and yet another deplorable attack on the most basic human rights and freedoms of women in Afghanistan.
We are also alarmed about the recent stance of Amina J. Mohammed the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General proposing to discuss at an upcoming UN-sponsored meeting of envoys the possible recognition of the Taliban. Recognition of a regime that is implementing gender apartheid in Afghanistan is not only a violation of the human rights of the people of Afghanistan but an attack on the values that the UN stands for.
Women in Afghanistan are banned from accessing most forms of formal education, their access to the most vital services such as health is hindered by the Taliban’s male guardian policy, and last December Taliban banned women’s employment in national and international NGOs.
The Taliban’s announcement banning women’s employment in the UN comes amidst not only a human rights crisis in the country but a humanitarian catastrophe where the lives and survival of 28 million people depend on the proper administration of humanitarian assistance.
We understand that UNAMA is facing a terrible dilemma because of the Taliban’s increasing human rights violations and the growing humanitarian needs in the country. However, pursuing humanitarian action without women excludes them from access to much-needed services and contributes to the further erasure of women from public spaces.
We further remind the United Nations that UNAMA is expected to address the human rights crisis Afghanistan is facing, but has, so far, not met the expectations of the people of Afghanistan in this regard. UNAMA must be committed to impartially fulfilling all aspects of its mandate including monitoring the human rights situation, reporting on attacks on women and marginalized ethnic and religious groups, and calling out the Taliban’s grave human rights violations consistently and in the strongest terms.
Recommendations:
- We urge Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement retracting the statement made by Amina J. Mohammed.
- We strongly urge the UN to stand by its principles and pressure the Taliban to reverse their policies restricting women’s rights, including the immediate lifting of the ban on women’s employment in UN agencies and otherwise.
- We stand with women protesters inside Afghanistan in their call for the suspension of UN agencies in the country until women are allowed back to work.
- We further call on the UN to use this suspension as an opportunity to pressure the Taliban into lifting its draconian bans on women and arrive at clear commitments to support women before the resumption of humanitarian assistance and other activities.
- UNAMA must be transparent with the people of Afghanistan on the terms and outcomes of any engagement and negotiation with the Taliban.
- We recognize the critical importance of humanitarian aid but realize that aid has not been equitably distributed, including to women who represent some of the most marginalized groups. Before the resumption of humanitarian aid, following the suspension of activities, UNAMA must be forthcoming about its access to marginalized communities and its ability to deliver aid across Afghanistan fairly and equitably. Going forward, humanitarian aid must be distributed fairly and reports about the quality of aid, lack of access to aid, and Taliban control over the distribution of aid in different parts of the country, must be openly addressed and remedied.
Taliban have issued over 40 decrees targeting the rights and freedoms of women in Afghanistan. Afghan women human rights defenders call this a gender apartheid. It is time that the UN shows commitment to the rights of women by standing with them and suspending its activities in Afghanistan until its female staff is allowed to work.
Afghan Civil Society Members and Protesters
- Ajmal Afghan, Integrity Watch Afghanistan, Field Coordinator
- Anita Ghazanfar, AWRO, Human Rights Defender
- Atefa Tayeb, Former Deputy Minister
- Aziz Rafiee, HRD
- Batool Haidari, University Professor
- Ehsan Ahmadi, APJO, External Relations Manager
- Fakhrunisa Haqyar, AIHRC, Human Rights Activist
- Farhad Behrozو Kapisa Civil Society Network, Leadership Member
- Fariha Easar, Social Activist
- Fariza Akbari Ibrahimi, Protestor
- Farzana Ashrafi, AKF
- Fatema Daryab Ahmadi , American University, Fellow
- Firooz Khan Ahmadi, Takhar Civil Society Network
- Frozan Darwish, Human Rights Network, Human Rights Defender
- Hafiza Yazdani, IRC Community Outreach Specialist
- Hamed Elham, HRD Volunteer
- Hoda Khamosh, Afghan Women’s Justice Movement, Human Rights Activist/Writer
- Junaidullah Ashkani, ACSFO Member
- Karima Rahimyar, Afghan Women Education and Vocational Services Organization, Director
- Khatira Rahimi, Afghanistan`s women’s Movement for Justice and Freedom, Protestor
- Khowaja Abdul Sami Amiri, Human Rights Defender and Civil Society Activist
- Laila Basim, Spontaneous Movement of Protesting Women in Afghanistan, Chief
- Mahboube Hosseinzadeh, Women’s Rights Activist
- Malalai Saad, Zanane Solh Parwar, Activist
- Maria Noori, Unity and solidarity of women, Protester
- Maria Ghousi
- Mariz Tadros, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK Professor
- Mastora Shafahi Hazara, women movement council , Women protect
- Mohammad Aman Haidari, FARDA INTELLIGENTSIA ASSOCIATION, Human rights defender
- Mohammad Ashraf Bakhteyari, AFSO, Co-Founder
- Mohammad daud Sheja, ACSFO, Project officer
- Mohammad Ismail Hotak, Hotak Surkhroad Youth High Council Director
- Mohammad Khalid, Ramizy University of Pittsburgh and The White Assembly Research Scholar and President
- Mohammad Reza Wulsmal , MJMA
- Mujtaba Nawabi
- Munaza Ahmadi, Takhar Civil Society Network , Member
- Nazanin Noori
- Nazifa Haqpal, SOAS University, Ph.D. Candidate
- Pragna Patel, Activist and Former Founder and Director of Southall Black Sisters
- Rahela Kaveer Afghan Women Empowerment Organization, Director
- Raihana Akbary, FEFA
- Sara Nabil, E-Schoolaf, Founder & Executive Director
- Sayed Mudaser Sajad, FEFA, Women and Youths Assistant
- Sayed Naqibullah Sadat, UoPeople, Student
- Sediqa Mushtaq, HMGM, Protester
- Shaeufa Karimi, AHRDC, Focal point
- Shah Jahn Kabiri, Unity and Solidarity of Afghanistan Women, Protester
- Shahrbanu Haidari, ASDD, President
- shaima seddiqi, Pajwak, Journalist
- Shaista Safi, Afghanistan Women’s Solidarity Movement, Sing Afghan women, and we want our rights
- Shamail tawana Nasiri, Women’s Movement for Justice and Freedom, Founder
- Sharifa Mowahedizada, Protestor
- Sheeba Raufi, Harakat Khod Josh Zanan Afghanstan
- Sheeba Raufi, The Kosha Women’s Organization, Manager
- Sima Noori, World Hazara Council, Chairman of the Women’s Committee
- Soraya Rasuli, Falah social institution
- Sorayya Heidary, Protestor
- Tahera Nasiri, Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network/ Safvan Civil Organization, Human rights defender, Protester and Civil Activist
- Tamana Ayazi, Freelance Filmmaker, Journalist, Advocate
- Tarana Adeeb, Protester
- Wahid Haqiq, HODA, Executive Director
- Wahid Kalantari, Network of Panjshir Civil Society Institutions
- Wahida Amiri, Protestor
- Yalda Royan, Freedom Now, Afghanistan Program Officer
- Zahra Haqparast, Unity and solidarity of Afghanistan women, Leader of a Protest Movement
- Zahra Mohammadi, Protester
- Zalmay Wafayar, Kabul University, Assistant Professor
- Zarlasht Khogyani, Unity & Solidarity of Women, Protestor
- Zubaida Akbar, Woman Human Rights Defender
Afghan Civil Society Organizations Endorsement:
1. AABRAR
2. ACAA
3. ACSFo
4. Afghan Canadian Civil Society Forum
5. Afghan Civil Organizations Collection
6. Afghan Human Rights Defenders in Exile
7. Afghan Women Education and Vocational Services Organization
8. Afghanistan Studies & Cooperation Center e.V.
9. Afghanistan Youth National Development and Social Organization ( AYNDSO)
10. AGHO
11. AHRDS and Hymait network foundation
12. AWRO
13. BWCA
14. CHCSCA
15. Civil society Association
16. Civil Society Development and Growth Organization CSDGO
17. Civil Society Network
18. Community Center for the Disabled
19. Development Vision Organization
20. DOWA
21. Education Defenders Network – EDN
22. Etidal, Peace, and Democracy
23. Falah Social Institution
24. FEFA
25. Feminine Solidarity for Justice FSJO
26. FIA Organization
27. Global Goals Organization for Prosperity
28. Hemayat Network and Afghan Human rights defenders in Exile
29. Hoodmand Youth Civil Society
30. ICCO
31. Management Studies Organization
32. Nai SOMA
33. NIDA-E-Afghanistan
34. NMAWO
35. NSCRO
36. Panjshir Civil Society Network
37. PAR literary center
38. Radio Saday Qarya
39. RUIDAD
40. Social Change For Afghan Women Organisation(SCAWO)
41. Surkhroad Youth High Council
42. Tajala Radio and Television
43. Takhar Civil Society
44. WAW
45. WPSO
International Organizations Endorsement:
1. Equality Fund
2. Fe-Male
3. Femena
4. International Action Network for Gender equity & Law (IANGEL)
5. Musawah
6. NOOR
7. The Regional Coalition for WHRDs (WHRDMENA)
8. Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC)
9. Virtual Activism
10. Women for Women’s Human Rights – New Way