United Nations – 207 –
Afghanistan: Women, Peace & Security – Joint Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations
Summary
270seconds video
The statement, issued by Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom, condemns the Taliban’s gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls in Afghanistan. They highlight significant anniversaries of international commitments to women’s rights and reiterate the importance of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. The Taliban’s numerous decrees have restricted women’s rights, including a ban on education and work, and impose severe limitations on their freedoms. The signatories demand the Taliban cease these violations and respect Afghanistan’s international obligations. They support holding the Taliban accountable for gender-based crimes and emphasize the necessity of women’s participation in Afghanistan’s peace and development. Additionally, they express support for the United Nations’ continued presence and advocacy efforts for women’s rights in Afghanistan. The Security Council members also encourage diplomatic efforts and the renewal of the UN Assistance Mission’s mandate in the country.
Full Script
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to this very lively afternoon in the UN building. I feel so many women around. It’s beautiful. But I’ll start now the declaration here. It’s we, Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and United Kingdom. Security Council signatories of the statement of shared commitment of Wynnum, Teesson, and Security reiterate our strong condemnation of the Taliban’s attack on the United Kingdom and our strong condemnation of the Taliban’s continued and systematic gender discrimination and increased gender-based violence, which may amount to gender persecution. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, which established the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. In keeping with the 10 UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security, member states have long pledged to promote all women’s rights as human rights and women’s participation in all efforts to maintain peace and security. Yet today, the women and girls of Afghanistan are erased from public life and their voices are silenced. The Taliban has issued more than 80 decrees and directives, specifically targeting the autonomy, rights, and daily lives of women and girls. In August 2024, the Taliban issued the so-called Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. In December 2024, the Taliban suspended women and girls’ access to education in both private and public medical institutions. This came on the heels of the Taliban’s decision banning women from working for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan and severe restrictions on women’s freedom of movement and freedom of expression. Together, these unacceptable and unjustifiable measures aim to institutionalize a system of gender-based discrimination, persecution, and oppression. We condemn, in the strongest terms, these policies, and we call on the Taliban to immediately cease and reverse their ongoing systematic violations of human rights, particularly discriminatory policies and practices that violate human rights and fundamental freedoms of all women and girls. We further reject any attempts to silence or threaten Afghan civil society representatives and women human rights defenders. The Taliban must respect Afghanistan’s international obligations and commitments, including the convention of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. We welcome steps to hold the Taliban accountable for the widespread and institutionalized violations of women’s and girls’ human rights. We note, among other initiatives, the application of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor for Arrest Forants against two senior Taliban leaders and a commitment to pursue accountability for gender-based crimes, including gender persecution. The Security Council has made clear, including through the resolution 2593 and 2681, that full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of all Afghan women and girls in all spheres of life is essential to peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan. We call for the full participation in Afghanistan’s future and long-term development, and in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. This also goes for all diplomatic efforts such as the UN Let Doha process and the recently established working groups and the Central Asian Women’s Leaders’ Caucus. We reaffirm our support for the continuous presence of the United Nations’ Assistant Mission in Afghanistan and other UN agencies’ funds and programs across Afghanistan in support of the Afghan people, including women and girls. We underline that all member states and UN agencies, including Yunama, must work to promote a coherent approach to upholding and advocating for women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan. We further express our support for renewing Yunama’s mandate in full. With this, the joint statement has concluded. I’ll give the Security Council members a moment to leave the stakeout area.
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