Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, called on the interim government of Afghanistan to fully uphold the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls, including the right to education, employment, and participation in society.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ninth conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ministers on women in Islamabad, he stated that ensuring these rights is entirely consistent with the teachings of Islam.
The ninth OIC conference on women began on Sunday, July 13, in Islamabad. During this meeting, officials and representatives from member countries are discussing ways to strengthen the status of women in Islamic societies.
Ishaq Dar emphasized the role of women in the development of countries, stating, “Nations are built by the advancement of their women.”
He also considered gender equality and the full participation of women as fundamental to development and stability, adding, “Investing in women is a smart investment for an entire nation.”
This comes at a time when the current government, since its return to power in August 2021, has systematically stripped Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights and freedoms through widespread restrictions.
Several human rights organizations and women’s rights advocates have described these policies as a form of “gender apartheid.”
Girls are barred from education beyond the sixth grade. Women are not allowed to study at universities and have been prohibited from working in government offices, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies.
These restrictions have faced widespread criticism from the United Nations, Islamic countries, and the international community. Many governments and international organizations consider improving the situation of women’s and girls’ rights as a prerequisite for engaging with the current government.
