Statement of 11 April 2023 - Taliban must stop gender apartheid now
Afghanistan: Taliban must stop gender apartheid now
The Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with Afghanistan, Petras Auštrevičius (Renew, LT) issued the following statement today:
"On behalf of the EP Delegation for relations with Afghanistan, I would like to strongly condemn the banning of Afghan women decides by the Taliban regime from working in the UN in Afghanistan.
This is just another brick in the wall of gender apartheid perpetrated in an exponential way and without any respect for human rights and international Treaties subscribed by Afghanistan.
I urge the regime to stop this situation now and deliver its promises immediately.
Women' continue deletion from society is outrageous; it is erasing all social progress of the last twenty years and compromising the future of Afghanistan.
Women are half of society. Promoting women's participation and ensuring gender issues are amongst key objectives of the European Parliament's approach to democracy support. This situation is aggravating the dreadful conditions of not only women and girls, but the entire Afghan society.
Humanitarian aid provided by EU has to match our principle and I call for this to be respected. Only the Taliban regime will be held responsible for aggravating the suffering it is inflicting to its citizens.
I wish to extend my sympathy to Afghan women, girls, and to all citizens that are believing in them and they are fighting to build a better society. I strongly deplore the persecution and arrests of human rights defenders, such as education rights activist Matiullah Wesa, and urge for their immediate and unconditional release. D-AF will always stand by them."
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