The Women for Peace and Freedom (WPF) movement have voiced their opposition to the United Nations (UN) considering the official recognition of the Taliban regime, arguing that such recognition would mean a complete disregard for the rights of women by the organization.
The protesters expressed their disapproval through a message to Rukhshana Media, responding to comments made by Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations that the UN is planning to meet to discuss Taliban recognition.
Parwana Ebrahimkhel Najrabi, leader of the WPF movement, tells Rukhshana Media that the UN’s consideration of recognizing the Taliban is contrary to the core mission of the UN and the values of human rights. She said women were dismayed to hear these remarks which only perpetuate the oppression of women in Afghanistan and show that the UN’s claim of protecting the rights of Afghan women and girls is merely a political platitude.
Amina Mohammed told an audience at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs on Monday that the UN is arranging an international meeting in the next fortnight with envoys for Afghanistan from around the world to discuss granting official recognition to the Taliban.
“And out of that, we hope that we’ll find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition [of the Taliban], a principled recognition,” Ms Mohammed said. “Is it possible? I don’t know. That discussion has to happen. The Taliban clearly want recognition, and that’s the leverage we have.”
Ms Najrabi pointed to how the Taliban has removed women from public life in Afghanistan over the past 20 months, so much so that many women do not even leave their homes. She argued that recognizing the Taliban regime is both irresponsible and premature.
In response to Amina Mohammed’s statements, Najrabi urges all active political movements, national and international figures, political parties, and women’s movements to make their stance on the issue clear and explicit.
“The people of Afghanistan should not allow the United Nations to surrender to the inhuman demands of the Taliban and their gender apartheid regime and bury Afghan women alive,” Ms Najrabi said, adding that the UN’s whitewashing of the Taliban is unforgivable to the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls.
