KABUL (SW) – The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on September 18, to discuss and evaluate the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the women’s rights.
According to the Security Council’s announcement, the meeting will be chaired by Tanja Fajon, the Foreign Minister of Slovenia. It will also feature statements from Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), as well as, Sima Sami Bahous, the head of the UN Women, and a representative from Afghan civil society.
The session is expected to focus primarily on the conditions of women and girls in Afghanistan, particularly in relation to the recently enacted Islamic Emirate’s new morality law.
Although, the Security Council’s announcement for September does not mention specific countries, it has been noted that the Council’s critical statement on this law has faced opposition from two of its members.
Political analyst Mohammad Zalmay Afghanyar Popal commented on such meetings, saying: “In the past three years, numerous international meetings have been held to review the situation in Afghanistan, some hosted by the UN Security Council, which issued statements and condemnations.”
Another political analyst, Abdul Qadir Qanat, also said, “The Security Council has repeatedly held meetings and voiced concerns about human rights. Now, this meeting comes at a time when tensions over the laws by the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice have intensified.”
Experts emphasize that the UN meetings on Afghanistan over the past three years have not only failed to lead to a resolution or understanding with the current de-facto government but have also exacerbated tensions between the de-facto government and the UN. This conflict, according to experts, has primarily harmed Afghan citizens, placing them in a precarious political situation.
Political analyst Najib Al-Rahman Shamal, remarked: “Continuing these disagreements may lead the international community to consider additional sanctions and reduced aid, which would not benefit the Afghan people. We hope the current government will make more efforts to resolve its issues with the world.”
While the Islamic Emirate has not specifically responded to the upcoming UN Security Council meeting, it has previously stated that any success in discussions about Afghanistan requires the participation of their representative.
