Guterres urges IEA to facilitate work, participation of Afghan women, girls — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to lift the “restrictions” on women and girls and facilitate Afghan women’s work with the United Nations. In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, Guterres said he remained concerned about policies that, in his view, had affected Afghan women and girls. The statement quoted Guterres as saying that restrictions on their full participation in public life, education and many areas of work violated their fundamental rights and remained a critical impediment to Afghanistan’s economic development, stability and reintegration into the international community. The United Nations said 7 September marked one year since Afghan women had been prevented from accessing UN compounds across the country. Guterres said the restrictions were inconsistent with international law, including the UN Charter and undermined the organisation’s ability to carry out its mandate and deliver life-saving and other assistance to people in Afghanistan. The UN secretary-general said unimpeded access for all UN personnel to their workplaces was essential to carrying out the organisation’s mandate and reaching people in need, particularly women and girls. He added that the presence of women in delivering humanitarian assistance and essential services to women and girls was essential for effective humanitarian operations. Guterres once again called on the IEA to lift the ban…