Author: رسانه‌ای گوهر شاد

4 months ago - 445 Visits

Amnesty International states that the ban on education for girls in Afghanistan is unjustifiable and constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights to education. The organization made these remarks in a message posted on its X account to mark the beginning of the academic year in Afghanistan, stating that the de facto government must allow girls of all ages to attend school. It further emphasized that the current officials should abandon their pessimistic excuses to advance their discriminatory agendas. Amnesty International has also urged people worldwide to sign a petition to hold the current government accountable by the international community. Additionally, UNICEF has announced that with the start of the new academic year, nearly 400,000 more girls have been deprived of their right to education, bringing the total to 2.2 million. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, stated that this restriction continues to harm the future of millions of girls in Afghanistan. Ms. Russell stressed that if this ban continues until 2030, over four million girls will be deprived of education beyond primary school, with catastrophic consequences for both the girls and Afghanistan. While Amnesty International criticizes the educational restrictions on girls in Afghanistan, the de facto government has prohibited girls above the sixth grade from attending school, university, and participating in sports. This action by the current government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being unable to receive an education. It is worth noting that, in addition, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the international community has repeatedly called on the current government to lift the educational restrictions on girls. However, the de facto government has yet to make any changes in this regard.

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4 months ago - 272 Visits

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, stated that with the start of the new academic year in Afghanistan, an additional 400,000 girls have been deprived of education, bringing the total number of girls who are banned from secondary and high school education to 2.2 million. In a statement issued day (Saturday, March 22), Russell warned that the continuation of this ban threatens the future of millions of Afghan girls and will have severe consequences for the entire country. She further cautioned that if this situation persists until 2030, more than four million girls will be deprived of education beyond primary school. The UNICEF Executive Director emphasized that this ban not only endangers the health and well-being of girls but also increases forced marriages and reduces women's presence in the healthcare system. The statement also noted that the shortage of female doctors and midwives puts thousands of mothers and newborns at risk. UNICEF estimates that this prohibition will lead to 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghan children, particularly girls. According to the statement, 445,000 children currently have access to education through community-based learning programs, 64% of whom are girls. UNICEF described the situation as catastrophic and called for the immediate lifting of the ban on girls' education. It should be noted that the de facto government has prohibited girls above the sixth grade from attending school, university, and sports activities in Afghanistan. This decision has left millions of female students without access to education. Additionally, women have been banned from entering gyms, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical examinations from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs, as well as UN offices in Afghanistan. The international community has repeatedly urged the current government to remove educational restrictions on girls. However, the de facto authorities have yet to make any changes in this regard.

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4 months ago - 379 Visits

Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), has recently claimed that the world's countries have forgotten their commitments to Afghan women and girls. Egeland made these remarks in a video posted on his X account, urging the international community to assist in the fight for the rights of the Afghan people, especially women and girls. In his video message, he once again expressed concern over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend foreign aid. He stated, "We urge decision-makers in Europe and North America not to let all their past investments go to waste." The NRC chief emphasized that his organization continues its operations in Afghanistan, striving to secure the rights of millions of women, girls, children, and men in need. He added that support for the Afghan people must be increased. Egeland also noted that U.S. aid had already been reduced before its suspension. This comes as Donald Trump, on his first day in office, signed executive orders temporarily suspending U.S. international aid. Following this suspension, the operations of dozens of humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan have come to a halt. The U.S. has been Afghanistan’s largest donor over the past three years. Egeland reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to continuing its activities in Afghanistan, despite the U.S. aid suspension. However, following this financial cutoff, NRC operations in 20 countries, including Afghanistan, were halted. Recently, the organization announced that due to a lack of resources, its staff in Afghanistan can no longer continue supporting women, girls, and families in need.

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4 months ago - 433 Visits

Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and warned that these refugees are at risk of retaliation in Afghanistan. In a report published on Wednesday, March 19, this international organization stated that refugees are not only facing threats in Afghanistan but are also struggling with severe economic hardships. Human Rights Watch emphasized, "The human rights situation in Afghanistan has continued to deteriorate since the takeover of the interim government." In its report, the organization called on the Pakistani government to halt the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. Additionally, Human Rights Watch urged the current government to refrain from retaliating against Afghan refugees. This comes as the Pakistani government has asked illegal refugees and holders of "ECCI" cards to leave the country by March 31. It is worth noting that Afghan migrants in Pakistan are facing dire living conditions and are all awaiting relocation to their desired countries. Following the current government's takeover of Afghanistan, a large number of civil activists, human rights defenders, women's rights advocates, journalists, sexual minorities, former military personnel, and Afghans who collaborated with foreign forces have fled to Pakistan and Iran due to fear of retaliation or to process their asylum requests to European and American countries. Some of them are still waiting for their asylum applications to be processed. Over the past three and a half years, Iran and Pakistan have forcibly deported thousands of migrants and imposed strict policies against them in these countries.

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4 months ago - 212 Visits

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has recently announced that, following a new directive from the authorities of the interim government in Kandahar, the broadcasting of women's voices on radios has been entirely prohibited. Today (Tuesday, March 18), this center published a statement indicating that government officials have also requested media outlets to refer to Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the current government, as "Amir al-Mu'minin" from now on. It further states that the Directorate of Information and Culture in Kandahar issued this directive on National Journalists' Day. The statement mentions that under this directive, the voices of women on radios are absolutely forbidden, and the broadcasting and dissemination of women's messages in entertainment programs are also prohibited. Additionally, the publication of any type of medicine, cosmetics, powders, and advertisements for clinics and hospitals without official permission from the Ministry of Public Health is banned. Part of the statement notes that radio staff traveling to register reports and programs in the city and districts of Kandahar must have official permission from the Directorate of Information and Culture of Kandahar. It should be noted that Kandahar is the second province after Helmand where women's voices have been completely banned in the media. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center, currently, no television network is operating in Kandahar, and most visual media have turned into radio stations. The Afghanistan Journalists Center condemns the imposition of new restrictions on the media in Kandahar and considers it a clear sign of the intensification of policies to suppress free media in this province, which has already faced numerous unlawful restrictions. The center believes that this unprecedented increase in restrictions and censorship seriously jeopardizes the survival of local media, which are facing severe economic challenges. The Afghanistan Journalists Center urges the interim government to seriously consider the consequences of widespread and unprecedented suppression of freedom of expression and media on the mental health of the people and to respect freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, which is also respected in Islam. Earlier, this center stated that violations of journalists' rights and media in the year 1403 (2024) have increased by 24% compared to the previous year. The current government has imposed unprecedented restrictions on domestic media and journalists since its takeover of Afghanistan.

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4 months ago - 248 Visits

The Ministry of Public Health of the caretaker government has rejected a recent report by Doctors Without Borders regarding the increase in measles cases among children in Afghanistan, stating that 16 million children across the country will receive the measles vaccine. In a statement, the ministry responded to the report by Doctors Without Borders, asserting that the organization should present its reports based on facts to avoid causing concern among the citizens of the country. The statement continued: "Last year, recorded cases of this disease were addressed promptly; currently, organized efforts against measles are ongoing by various health institutions." The announcement mentioned that a national measles vaccination campaign has also been launched this year, and 16 million children are set to receive the vaccine against this disease throughout Afghanistan. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Health has urged domestic and international organizations and institutions to coordinate with the ministry when publishing their reports and statements. This comes as Doctors Without Borders reported last Wednesday that measles cases among children in Herat, Balkh, and Helmand have tripled. The organization stated that one child dies daily in each of these three provinces due to measles. This entity described the rise in measles cases as concerning, noting that in the first eight weeks of this year, 4,799 children with suspected measles symptoms were identified in these three provinces, with 25% requiring hospitalization and the remaining 75% needing outpatient treatment.

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4 months ago - 226 Visits

OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Afghanistan, has once again criticized the interim government's ban on girls' education in medical institutes, stating that this action will have catastrophic repercussions. In a report published by the organization, it was stated that the continuation of this situation will deepen the health crisis in Afghanistan and also negatively impact the health of mothers and newborns. OCHA stated: "This ban not only threatens women's access to education in the medical field, such as midwifery, nursing, dental prosthetics, and laboratory work, but also creates serious problems for women in healthcare in Afghanistan, jeopardizing the implementation and sustainability of health programs in the long term." The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that the ban on girls' education in medical institutes directly affects over 45,000 female students in Afghanistan. The report noted that among these, 4,500 girls have recently graduated from this field, and another 9,800 girls were expected to celebrate their graduation soon. The UN added that this decision will lead to a decrease in female specialists in the medical field in Afghanistan and further restrict women's access to healthcare services. The United Nations also expressed concern that the decision to ban girls' education in medical training facilities will result in an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality in Afghanistan. The report stated: "The ban on midwifery and other medical training is likely to have catastrophic consequences for maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, especially given that Afghanistan already ranks among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world." The UN estimates that more than 620 mothers die during childbirth for every 100,000 live births in Afghanistan, a figure that is nearly three times the global average. Furthermore, it was noted that more than 24 newborns die for every 1,000 live births in this country. The United Nations reiterated that it continues to work with its partners to improve health conditions and particularly provide health services to the citizens of Afghanistan, including mothers and newborns across the country. It is worth mentioning that the current government has imposed severe and repressive restrictions on women over the past three years.

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4 months ago - 438 Visits

Officials from the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the interim government have reacted to the recent UN meeting and the concerns expressed by its participants regarding the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, calling the statements of the meeting's members baseless. Saif al-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated that the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are being upheld. Mr. Khyber emphasized that these statements are "an attempt to mislead public opinion in another way," asserting that the Islamic Emirate is committed to ensuring the rights of women in Afghanistan. He added, "Their concerns are actually an effort to change public opinion and impose their negative views; for this reason, they occasionally raise the issue of women to obscure the crises they themselves have created." According to Khyber, they are trying to impose their views on the people through this means and hide the crises they have caused themselves. These remarks come after the United Nations Security Council held a meeting last week regarding Afghanistan, where members expressed concern about the dire situation of women in the country.

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4 months ago - 159 Visits

The European Union has recently stated that the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan will have devastating consequences, particularly for the women and girls of the country. The EU made these remarks during a meeting of the Permanent Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, calling for the full realization of equal human rights, empowerment, participation, and leadership of women in all areas of society. Additionally, the EU issued a statement condemning the organized suppression of women and girls by the interim government. The statement highlighted that these countries are deeply concerned about the current situation in Afghanistan. EU member states emphasized that the people of Afghanistan continue to face a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis. The statement also underscored the importance of providing Afghan migrants with access to education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods. The EU Delegation in Afghanistan has also stated that during its fourth campaign to support Afghan women, it has supported 2,954 businesses under the interim government. Furthermore, it mentioned that 9,331 undocumented returning women who were at risk of violence have received case management support. The EU has stated that it supports Afghan women and girls in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration. This delegation emphasized: "Displaced, migrant, and returning women need sustainable income. The EU's programs create sustainable businesses for Afghan displaced women. We also fully support women's economic independence." The European Union had launched a five-day campaign to support Afghan women on March 8, International Women's Day.

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4 months ago - 181 Visits

Save the Children has stated that the operations of 18 health centers supported by the organization in Afghanistan have been halted due to budget cuts. In a statement released late yesterday (Tuesday, March 11), the organization warned that if immediate financial assistance is not received, another 14 centers will be closed within a few weeks. Save the Children emphasized that the reduction in financial aid and the closure of treatment centers are putting Afghan children at risk. The statement noted that the decline in foreign aid has forced the organization to suspend its programs for children suffering from malnutrition. It further mentioned that just in January of this year, over 134,000 children received health services at 32 health centers supported by Save the Children in Afghanistan. Additionally, Save the Children quoted one of its doctors in northern Afghanistan as saying: "People are disheartened by the reduction in aid. Currently, we are treating 135 children suffering from malnutrition. If this center closes, people will not be able to transfer their patients to a private health center. Our health center is the only option for them." The statement highlighted that 131 million children live in areas facing acute food crises worldwide. It mentioned that approximately 35 children are born hungry every minute around the world. Save the Children also stated in part of its announcement: "Children suffering from malnutrition are 11 times more likely to die from all diseases and common childhood illnesses than others." Alongside the warnings from Save the Children, Rosa Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, also reported the closure of over 200 health centers in the country. Otunbayeva mentioned during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan two days ago that these centers have been closed in the past month due to budget cuts in aid to Afghanistan. She added that the reduction in aid funding in Afghanistan has limited assistance to approximately 1.8 million children suffering from malnutrition. This comes at a time when concerns about the critical state of Afghanistan's healthcare system, particularly in maternal and child health services, have increased due to restrictions imposed by the caretaker government on the education of women and girls in medical institutions.

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