NEW YORK 31 August 2024 (TDI): UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has said that the United Nations will persist in its engagement with Taliban-led Afghanistan’s interim government, despite recent tensions.
This follows Afghanistan’s decision to halt cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), citing dissatisfaction with the mission’s perceived propaganda.
In a news conference, Dujarric urged Afghanistan to expand diplomatic channels. He stated, “We have been very vocal about the recent measures that have effectively diminished the presence of women in Afghanistan. Regarding our interactions with interim authorities, we will continue to engage with all relevant parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban.”
Previously, the United Nations expressed significant concern over a new morality law enacted by the Taliban, which imposes stringent restrictions on personal freedoms and limits women’s public presence.
The recently adopted “Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice” has sparked widespread international condemnation. The law introduces a series of restrictive measures, including mandates for women to cover their entire bodies, bans on women’s voices in public, and further restrictions on their movement without a male guardian. Men are also subject to strict regulations, such as mandatory beard growth and bans on playing music while driving. Media outlets face severe restrictions, including bans on publishing images of individuals.
The law grants state officials extensive powers to detain and punish individuals for alleged moral violations, often based solely on suspicion without evidence or due process.
UN human rights experts have expressed alarm, describing the law as a significant regression in human rights that echoes the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s. “These measures are disturbingly reminiscent of the Taliban’s harsh rule in the 1990s and indicate that the group has not softened its approach since regaining power,” the experts noted.
Also Read More: Afghanistan Needs 18,000 Midwives Amid Severe Health Crisis: UN Report
They have called on international actors, especially UN Member States, to develop a coordinated strategy focused on human rights, particularly women’s rights and gender equality. These independent experts, appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, monitor and report on specific human rights issues and do not receive a salary from the UN.
Despite the Taliban’s threats, the UN remains committed to its mission in Afghanistan, continuing its efforts to advocate for the rights and dignity of all Afghans under challenging conditions.
