UN Chief calls for support of Afghan Women

KABUL (Tolo News): UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the world to support Afghan women, saying that it’s a battle on “many fronts” in Afghanistan.

Speaking to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Guterres said they have been “supporting schools wherever it’s possible, schools with girls in the secondary level.”

“The donor community has said there will only be aid where women are involved. Where women are not involved, the aid will not be present. So, the pressure goes on in order to guarantee that we have women working in the humanitarian sector. In the public services, only very few women are working and we are fighting hard to increase it,” he said.

He also expressed concerns over the closing of secondary schools and universities for girls and women.

However, the deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi said that the rights of all Afghans are preserved within sharia law.

“No one should have concerns about the rights of the Afghan people. The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights of all citizens based on Islamic law and is working in this regard,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

Analysts said that the Islamic Emirate should accept the legitimate wishes of the international community.

“The Islamic Emirate has a national and historic responsibility for the future of the country and its people and that they should engage with the international community, so that they can be recognized via the international community,” said Toryalai Zazai, political analyst.

“The flexibility regarding the issues of women’s education and higher education can pave the way for the new initiatives,” said Sayed Jawad Sijadi, political analyst.

It has been more than 530 days since the schools for female students have remained closed. The Islamic Emirate also in a recent decree banned female students from going to universities.