Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the briefing on the situation in Afghanistan

Thank you Madam President,

I wish to thank Special Representative Otunbayeva, USG Fletcher, Ambassador Montalvo Sosa for their briefings and also wish to thank Ms. Mahboob for her insightful and sobering remarks.

Madam President,

During the last Doha meeting, the international community expressed the genuine readiness to continue the process of establishing a more coordinated and coherent global approach to Afghanistan and to address all the pressing challenges Afghanistan continues to face. Soon after Doha, the Taliban further restricted human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls with the so-called Law on Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and intensified its enforcement. The Taliban’s commitment to full implementation of this so-called law continues to instil fear and dread among the Afghans, particularly women and girls.

In November, despite the previous setbacks, the international community again showed its readiness to continue with the implementation of the Doha3 agreements. And again, just a few days after the first meeting of the working group on counter-narcotics convened by UNAMA, the Taliban ordered all educational institutions in Afghanistan to suspend medical education for women and girls.

We condemn in the strongest terms this latest directive and repeat our call on the Taliban to reverse all discriminatory policies and practices and as de facto authorities uphold their obligations under international law.

Madam President,

The latest ban will have devastating consequences – not only deepening humanitarian crisis, but also for the already extremely fragile healthcare system in Afghanistan. It will further limit and even prevent women and girls’ access to health services and prevent a new generation of medical professionals from receiving training and critical medical education that saves lives.

Statistics already indicate that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. This troubling trend is likely to worsen and it will put at risk a well-being of the whole nation.

Improving the livelihood, welfare, safety and security of the entire Afghan population seems a distant or a non-concern to the Taliban. So, we urge them once again to reverse and repeal this latest harmful discriminatory decision. We also wish to raise concern about operational impediments for international and local non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan, which are crucial actors for the delivery of the so needed help to Afghan people.

The international community cannot and must not ignore these regressive developments. All these actions are a serious obstacle to efforts of increased engagement with the de facto authorities. Engagement is a two way street.

Madam President,

Slovenia remains committed to the objective of a secure, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan. However, Taliban as de facto authorities need to respect international law and provide conditions for the international community to assist all Afghan people, including women and girls in order to get a possibility of a better future.

Let us not turn a blind eye on Afghan women and girls. We appeal on all countries, regional and other organizations, with influence on de facto authorities to use it for easing this very difficult and inhuman situation of women and girls. The UN must lead by example and must ensure that every engagement with the de facto authorities includes Afghan women, as mandated by the resolutions of this Council and recommended by the Independent Assessment.

I thank you Madam President.

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