Amid concerns over the situation of women in Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate’s failure to fulfill the Doha commitments, Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Qatar, has urged the international community to engage with the Islamic Emirate rather than criticize it during a sideline meeting of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Shaheen emphasized that positive engagement with the Islamic Emirate could foster trust between the parties. “If the United Nations and the international community, instead of criticizing, strive to resolve issues through constructive dialogue, it will be more effective in addressing problems and building trust,” Shaheen stated.
During a meeting called “The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan,” hosted by the Permanent Missions of Ireland, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Qatar at the UN, in partnership with the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Islamic Emirate to lift restrictions on women and girls.
“Without educated women, without women in employment, including leadership roles, and without recognizing the rights and freedoms of half its population, Afghanistan will never achieve its rightful place on the global stage,” Guterres asserted.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, warned that the Doha process is at risk of being halted due to the Islamic Emirate’s failure to meet its commitments. DiCarlo expressed the international community’s expectation that the Islamic Emirate would engage in the process with goodwill.
She further noted, “The situation has become extremely complex, particularly with the introduction of the morality law. We had member states willing to engage and move forward with step-by-step projects. However, there is now a significant risk that this process could be terminated.”
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly commenced today (Tuesday) and is expected to continue for six more days. Representatives from over 190 countries will participate, with discussions also focusing on the issues of Afghanistan and Palestine.
