The situation of women in Afghanistan will be one of the main topics of discussion at the United Nations meeting on March 10 in the Security Council.
Denmark will preside over this Security Council session, where, in addition to extending the UNAMA mission and presenting the quarterly report on Afghanistan, the situation of Afghan women will also be discussed.
The Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN, headed by Permanent Representative and Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, stated: “We do want to have a special focus during the meeting on the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan we will also invite a … society briefer and have a WPS stake out before that meeting again, we’ve all seen how the situation for women and girls has continued to deteriorate in the last six months.”
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has reaffirmed its commitment to the rights, participation, and empowerment of Afghan women and girls.
Stephanie Loose, Country Program Manager (UN-Habitat) for Afghanistan, stated ahead of March 8, International Women’s Day, that access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and drinking water has a significant impact on the lives of Afghan women and girls.
She added: “This year’s theme for the International Women’s Day is ‘for all women and girls: rights, equality and empowerment.’ UN-Habitat implements many programs in Afghanistan and has been doing so for decades. We believe a better home, a safer neighborhood and improved access to services like water, like education, like health services have a huge impact on women and girls in Afghanistan.”
This comes as Afghanistan’s interim government has repeatedly stated that the rights of all citizens, including women, are more protected than before within the framework of Islamic rulings. However, the ongoing closure of schools and universities for girls remains a contentious issue, facing widespread criticism.