United Nations on Wednesday announced its bid to exit Afghanistan, in the latest turn of events as the Taliban government impedes local women to work in a plethora of programs run by the global organization
Afghanistan was pushed into a perpetual state of chaos and dysfunctionality after the United States pulled its forces, marking an end to the two-decade-long struggle against the Taliban. When the Taliban formed their government in the country, they promised a state that was not regressive in nature. However, subsequent retrogressive measures by the government do not bode well for the country.
What is the stand of the UN?
As per the officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), carrying out functions in Afghanistan, the UN is working on ground level to augment the condition of women at ground level. Taliban has though not given a freeway to the global organization to involve local women, thereby stalling any substantive progress. United Nations has employed about 600 women to carry out its operations. United Nations has said to uphold basic fundamental human rights in the country defying all the diktats announced by the government.
Despite several promises to have a more mitigating rule as compared to the previous Taliban government in the 1990s, the Taliban has dodged its promises and returned to its infamous practices of carrying out public executions, banning women in public spaces, proscribing them from seeking education, and also snatching respectable employment opportunities.
The Trajectory of Women’s Rights
This latest step by the UN comes at a time when people in Afghanistan especially women and minorities are grappling with a major humanitarian crisis. The government in Afghanistan has struck its ill-famed steps thereby inviting international backlash.
Several Non-government organizations from all across the globe have provided aid in the form of food, medicines, and other humanitarian aid. Though its high dependence on foreign aid and imports has led to a depleting economic growth and progress.
After the fall of the democratic government of Ashraf Ghani, the country still grapples with international recognition.
International Responses
in December 2022, the Afghanistan government disallowed women to work with foreign agencies and NGOs. These steps have even aggravated the socio-economic and political situation in the country. Women with requisite skills are kept away from economic activities, leading to a high unemployment rate in the country. The larger ramifications of these steps have led to the economy is in peril.
Several international organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged the Taliban government to abide by the basic fundamental human right. Several Western countries have raised demands to provide formal education to all females in the country and aggrandize the level of education in order to seek formal recognition of legitimate government.
International reports and journalists have reported heavy crackdowns in recent months prohibiting them from freely using public spaces like parks and gyms. Even in schools and universities, women teachers are prohibited from the teaching process, thus stalling the education process in the country
Marred with umpteenth problems including a high unemployment rate, skyrocketing illiteracy, the abysmal state of healthcare facilities, and a disconnecting front the global society is not auguring well for the entire global society. As per the official statistics 2/3rd of the population is struck with a “humanitarian and existential crisis”.
From an Indian perspective, a volatile neighborhood is the last thing it can afford. Ominous signs of terrorist spreading terrorist activities in the region are also high and can cause a major security crisis in the region. Although India has provided immense support in terms of food and other essential goods.
How things bode for the women in Afghanistan and for global peace and stability post this major blow by United Nations is for the times to tell.
