Italy’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has reiterated its commitment to supporting Afghan women and girls and working to secure their fundamental rights.
In a statement, the mission said Italy was among the signatories of a joint statement on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, delivered at the Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The Permanent Mission of Italy stressed the need for the international community to take action in response to the situation of Afghan women and girls, and to work to ensure justice, equality and accountability for violations of their rights.
Since taking control of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities have barred women and girls from education. Most recently, they closed the doors of medical institutes to women and girls, despite a shortage of health-care workers across the country.
The authorities’ actions have left millions of school-age girls unable to continue their education.
Women have also been barred from going to sports clubs, restaurants and public baths; being examined by male doctors; travelling without a male guardian; and working for domestic and international nongovernmental organizations, as well as UN offices in Afghanistan.
According to reports, if the ban remains in place, nearly four million girls could be deprived of an education by 2030.
