UNO: On Thursday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning the Taliban's ban on Afghan women working for the UN and urging it to "swiftly reverse" all restrictions on women.
The ban was announced in early April, and all 15 members of the Council unanimously agreed that it "undermines human rights and humanitarian principles."
In a broader sense, the Council urged the Taliban administration to "swiftly reverse the policies and practises that restrict the enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights and fundamental freedoms."
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It listed freedom of movement, employment opportunities, and access to education as well as "women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in public life."
Additionally, the Council called on "all States and organisations to use their influence" to "promote an urgent reversal of these policies and practises." The organisation emphasised "the dire economic and humanitarian situation" as well as the "critical importance of a continued presence" of the UN mission in Afghanistan and other UN agencies.
The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, stated that "the world will not stand by silently as women in Afghanistan are erased from society."
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Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador, criticised the resolution's text for not going far enough and pointed the finger at the West even though his nation supported it.
He said, "We deeply regret and are disappointed that actions and a more ambitious approach and texts were obstructed by Western colleagues."
He made reference to the $7 billion in assets from the Afghan central bank that were frozen by the US after the Taliban seized control of the nation in 2021, saying, "If you're so sincere, why not return the assets you've stolen from the country and without any preconditions."
The United States announced in September that a fund with a Swiss base would be established to manage half the funds.
After prohibiting them from working for both domestic and international nongovernmental organisations in December, the Taliban government in Afghanistan announced on April 4 that women were no longer permitted to work for UN offices across the entire nation.
Many NGOs shut down completely in protest, adding to the suffering of Afghanistan's 38 million people, half of whom, according to aid organisations, are hungry.
Before the Taliban authorities' decision to ban the Afghan women UN workers earlier this month, it was finally decided after days of negotiation that women working in the health aid sector would be exempt from the decree.
The action sparked criticism from the West and a UN review of the global organization's Afghan operations, which will last until May 5. Next week, representatives from various nations will gather in Doha at a meeting called by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to "reinvigorate the international engagement around the common objectives for a durable way forward on the situation in Afghanistan."
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Since the Taliban forces' ascent to power in August 2021, they have reverted to the strict interpretation of Islam that characterised their initial rule from 1996 to 2001.
Afghan women have been subject to a plethora of restrictions, including being excluded from many government jobs and institutions of higher learning.