The United Nations claimed that Afghan girls and women have been denied their basic rights. “The fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls are under attack and they need the support and solidarity of the United Nations now more than ever,” the OCHA said. 11.8 million women and girls are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
According to the United Nations Office, humanitarian organizations should aim to provide assistance to women and girls by providing food, health care, education, livelihood opportunities and security services.
OCHA’s tweet comes after nearly two dozen women activists gathered in India Kabul Wednesday night who lit candles during a demonstration. The women said that they stayed awake all night and ‘lit candles for freedom’.
Responding to UN remarks, Taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahidi Said that since the Islamic Emirate is in power, all people enjoy their rights and that the UN report on women’s rights is based on “misinformation”.
Since gaining control of Afghanistan, Taliban representatives have promised to respect women’s rights to work and education within a mis-defined Islamic framework. But the actions of the government in the past few months strongly indicate that the Islamic group has seriously restricted its movement and activities. They cannot go to work or travel without a male guardian. Under the Taliban regime, girls over the age of 12 have been banned from school and women have been expelled from many sectors of the labor force, including the media and entertainment sectors.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs of the previous government has been abolished and its office has been replaced by a Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Evil. Afghan women have no representation in the cabinet of the interim Taliban government.
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