Remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan
Ambassador Robert Wood
Deputy Commissioner for Special Political Affairs
New-York, New-York
March 8, 2023
AS DELIVERED
Thank you Mr President. Special Representative Otunbayeva, thank you for your briefing. I would also like to thank Mrs Akbar for her briefing.
Thank you to UNAMA for your work to advance the Security Council’s goal of a stable, prosperous and secure Afghanistan. The United States fully supports UNAMA and its mission. We welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendations on strategic goals and priorities for UNAMA.
Today is International Women’s Day, a day when the United States and countries around the world honor the achievements and courage of women and girls around the world. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we must also highlight the immense barriers that women and girls face.
Nowhere is this more pronounced than in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to restrict women and girls from exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Unfortunately, in late December, the Taliban announced an edict barring women from working for national and international NGOs. Also in late December, the Taliban barred women from attending public and private universities, in addition to an existing ban on girls attending secondary schools.
These obstacles are in addition to the numerous edicts and restrictions that the Taliban have placed disproportionately on women and girls since August 2021. By preventing women from working for NGOs, including humanitarian organizations, the Taliban are endangering the lives of Afghans who rely on the help of many women. This help is vital, especially for female-headed households, which are already among the most vulnerable.
Mr President, UNAMA’s mandate is about to expire. The United States underscores our strong support for UNAMA’s broad mandate, including its vital work in the areas of human rights, child and civil protection, and women’s empowerment. UNAMA is critical to working towards peace and stability, which we all agree is so important to Afghanistan and the world. The Council must act to keep UNAMA as a lifeline for the people of Afghanistan.
The United States refuses – repeat, refuses – any effort to intervene in simple technical expansion. Such interference is unjustified. This would adversely affect both UNAMA and the Secretary-General’s plan to convene special envoys for Afghanistan. The Council should immediately maintain UNAMA’s mandate through a simple technical extension. We only have days left.
More broadly, the Taliban’s severe restrictions require a strong response from Afghanistan’s neighbors and the rest of the international community. We cannot stand by and watch the Taliban wipe women out of public life.
When the Deputy Secretary-General traveled to Afghanistan earlier this year, she noted broad consensus among regional states that enactments restricting women’s education and employment should be repealed. The United States supports regional efforts to enshrine this unity in the form of a General Assembly resolution.
The United States will continue to do its part to support the people of Afghanistan. We continue to expect the Taliban to provide unhindered humanitarian access for workers of all genders, safe conditions for humanitarian workers, and the independent and impartial delivery of aid.
The United States urges the Taliban to establish a credible process to support representative governance that fully reflects Afghanistan’s rich diversity, including full, equal, and meaningful representation of women and minorities.
We stand firmly by our long-standing commitment to advancing gender justice and equality and empowering women and girls around the world.
Thank you Mr President.
###
