Although the conflict between the international community and the Interim Government of Afghanistan over the education and employment of Afghan women and girls has continued since the beginning of the IE’s rule, these oppositions have been augmented since the UNAMA female employee was banned from work.
Following the international reactions, a European women’s organization called European Women’s Lobby issued a press release, saying that the international community should put pressure on the IE due to their recent decisions.
It was stated in the press release that the European Union and the international community should make women’s rights a condition for the continuation of trade and bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan.
The press release reads: “The European Women’s Lobby calls on the international community, businesses agencies and the European Union, to put pressure on the Taliban to restore the rights of Afghan women and girls, and make respecting women and girls rights an absolute bet of any trade, investment and bilateral cooperation pacts.”
In addition to the appeal, it was also stated in the press release that EWL is ready to support Afghan women and strengthen their organizations, and vowed that EWL will not remain silent against gender discrimination.
The press release reads: “European Women’s Lobby stands with Afghan women’s organizations inside and outside Afghanistan and is ready for their development and strengthening. EWL denies imagining a society where women and girls are hidden and destroyed. EWL will not remain silent against gender discrimination.”
Meanwhile, the head of EWL, Reka Safrany, said that the current situation in Afghanistan is not acceptable to anyone and cannot allow women to be deprived of their rights to life.
Safrany stressed the demand for Afghan women’s rights and the responsibility of the international community in this regard.
She added: “The current situation in Afghanistan is unbearable for now and for the future. We cannot just watch women and girls gradually being excluded from social, economic, cultural and political life. This is not acceptable. We stand by our sisters in Afghanistan and call on the international community to fulfill its responsibility by ensuring Afghan women’s participation in the public life.”
Although the IE has not yet reacted to the European Women’s Lobby Organization’s press release, it has already said that the decision to ban women’s education and work is a domestic issue of Afghanistan and the world should not interfere in these issues.
