A number of women’s rights activists in Afghanistan have called on UNAMA to clearly present the real situation of Afghan women and girls to the world. The demand comes ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, where education and women’s rights are also expected to be discussed. Another meeting is scheduled for 16 June to consider the renewal of UNAMA’s mandate. The activists say that while extending UNAMA’s mandate is important, reporting alone is not enough and practical measures should be taken against the Taliban. Julia Parasi told Radio Liberty that UNAMA should not only act as a reporting body, but must bring the reality of women’s conditions to the international community. She warned that ignoring the situation would normalize the suffering of women. Wazhma Yaqoobi also said UNAMA would only be effective if it takes practical steps to improve the situation of women. According to her, restrictions on women’s education, work, and social participation continue to increase, and there are also reports of arbitrary arrests. In the previous Security Council meeting, UNAMA’s mandate was extended for three months and the situation in Afghanistan was described as “concerning.” Warnings were also issued about the impact of restrictions on women’s lives and the decline in humanitarian aid. Although the Taliban have not yet reacted to the upcoming meeting, they have previously criticized international reports and assessments. Since the Taliban returned to power, wide-ranging restrictions have been imposed on women’s education, work, and social participation in Afghanistan.
