Session on Sidelines of UN Women's Commission Addresses Access to Justice for Afghan Women and Girls

UNITED NATIONS — A session held on the sidelines of the UN Women's Status Commission at UN headquarters focused on ensuring access to justice for Afghan women and girls.

Participants expressed concern over the human rights situation of Afghan women and demanded the lifting of restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate on their lives. Country representatives from Finland, Australia, Ireland, Spain and Greece emphasized that without Afghan women's presence and participation in society, the country will not achieve lasting stability and prosperity.

Laura Riznin, Finland's representative, said: "Excluding half of Afghanistan's population has disastrous consequences for the entire Afghan society. We support all Afghan women and girls and their immense resistance. Without their presence, Afghanistan will never achieve lasting stability and prosperity."

Michelle O'Brien, Australia's representative, stated: "Restrictions on women and girls' access to education, work, health services, and legal support violate international human rights commitments and undermine their dignity and right to self-determination."

Representatives from Ireland, Spain and Greece called for holding the Islamic Emirate accountable and increasing coordinated pressure through the European Union and UN to change policies toward Afghan women. Fergal Mityan, Ireland's representative, said: "We will also continue our work through the European Union and UN to pressure the Taliban in any way we can to change their discriminatory decrees and policies."

Kretian Petiani, Greece's representative, said: "Greece strongly condemns these outrageous actions. We urge the Taliban to immediately end these actions and respect Afghanistan's international commitments, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women."

The Islamic Emirate has not commented recently on this matter but has previously emphasized that the rights of all citizens, including women, are ensured within the framework of Islamic Sharia in the country.