Statement by H.E. Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the briefing on the situation in Afghanistan

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia.

I wish to thank Special Representative Otunbayeva and Executive Director Bahous for their briefings. My sincere appreciation also goes to Mina for sharing her powerful personal experience and for her insightful remarks.

Let me begin by commending UNAMA for all activities it has been undertaking. UNAMA’s presence in Afghanistan remains crucial, particularly its work on human rights, humanitarian assistance and providing good offices for dialogue between all relevant stakeholders in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan continues to face a wide range of societal, human rights, political, security, economic, climate, developmental, humanitarian and other challenges.

Today I wish to focus on one pressing issue – rights of girls and women and their access to education.

Last month marked three years since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Despite their pledge in 2021 to uphold the rights of women and girls, the following three years have been marked by relentless series of actions directly targeting women and girls, which may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute. We cannot and will not stay silent in the face of this institutionalized system of gender discrimination, segregation and oppression.

Human rights situation in Afghanistan was not exemplary before August 2021, however nothing comparable to today. It is shocking how quickly the progress painstakingly reached over years can be systematically dismantled in a nick of time.

The future of any country, including Afghanistan, cannot be prosperous if only half of the population has a chance to participate fully and freely in  societal and public life or decide on their own lives.

The possibility of obtaining education is a cornerstone of deciding one’s future and contributes to the development of the country. And in Afghanistan, girls are allowed only basic education up to the age of 12. It is deeply concerning that there is no indication for girls and women to return to secondary and tertiary education. Quite the opposite, if there ever was such a possibility, it seems dead now.

These restrictions will affect generations of Afghans to come. In a not so distant future, the shortage of highly skilled graduates will widen and will affect the peace of Afghanistan or the pace of Afghanistan’s path of development. When we hear about the need for development in Afghanistan, this is part of our answer.

Each day Afghanistan and the international community are loosing more of the potential of these girls and young women – to develop into responsible adults – knowledgeable, skillful and capable of helping their country to a peaceful, safe, secure and prosperous future.

Recent legislative developments, which imposed even further wide-ranging and far-reaching restrictions on personal conduct and behaviour, paint an even bleaker future for Afghan population, again, particularly for women and girls. We condemn the new policy that extends the already intolerable restrictions on women and girls’ rights and fundamental freedoms.

The education ban, along with other gross, widespread and systematic violations of women and girls’ rights, is a clear violation of international law, including CEDAW and CRC, to which Afghanistan is a state party. International obligations must be upheld, including by Afghanistan. Slovenia continues to strongly advocate for an immediate shift and reversal of all discriminatory policies and all practices.

In this context, we also reiterate our full support to the UN Special Rapporteur Bennett and once again urge the Taliban to grant him immediate and unhindered access to the country.

Slovenia, as part of the international donor community, supports a coherent, coordinated and structured engagement on Afghanistan, as was positively noted by this Council in Resolution 2721. The Independent Assessment and the foreseen roadmap for Afghanistan’s reintegration in the international community remain the most pragmatic way to address the future of Afghanistan.

We don’t expect quick solutions. However, the international community, particularly the UN Security Council members, should not turn a blind eye from Afghan women and girls disappearing from public life. UN must lead by example and must ensure that every engagement with the Taliban includes Afghan women, as mandated by the resolutions of the Security Council and recommended by Independent Assessment.

In Afghanistan women are being silenced. We must ensure space for their voices to be heard. We must continue to invest in and empower them. International community cannot leave Afghan women and girls alone. The approach we take or fail to take for all Afghan women and girls, is the test of who we are as a global community.

Slovenia will continue to hear, listen to and support Afghan women.

I resume my function as President of the Council.

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