Afghanistan: Tamanna’s statement
In the summer of 2021, the Taliban managed to regain control of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Since then, they have severely restricted the rights of women in Afghanistan in a number of ways. They have limited women’s access to education, affecting the futures of young women in Afghanistan. They have also imposed strict dress codes on women, requiring them to wear a burqa in public and threatening to punish male relatives if this dress code is broken. By imposing laws such as these, the Taliban have broken their promise to the international community that they would protect women’s rights. Tamanna Mohanty, on behalf of the Next Century Foundation, has delivered a statement to the United Nations Human Rights council expressing these concerns about the deteriorating situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Transcript:
Mr. President, the Next Century Foundation voices its concerns over the dismissal of women’s rights in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It had promised to the international community that it would continue to uphold the international human rights laws enshrined in the Convention on Eliminating Discrimination against Women. We would like to express our appreciation for the UN Security Council for taking steps towards adding international pressure on the concerned government to reverse its inappropriate social restriction on women’s assess to education and the workplace. The most problematic decree placed by the Afghan government is the imposition of dress code by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and punishing mahram (male guardian) if they fail to police the dress. Its harsh nature is not only discriminatory on women’s right to freedom; it will also promote domestic violence as it puts their family honour at stake. We urge the UN Security Council to not resort to costly political ploys like strict sanctions or travel bands in amidst of food insecurity and economic crisis. Thank you.
