James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, stated that Afghanistan cannot succeed without the presence of women and girls, and the interim government must immediately lift the restrictions imposed on them.
Mr. Kariuki made these remarks on Wednesday, September 25, at a UN Security Council meeting. He described reports that the current authorities are preventing female staff members from entering UN offices as concerning and called for their reversal.
The UK representative to the UN also expressed condolences to the victims of the recent earthquakes and announced that his country has allocated more than four million dollars in new assistance for earthquake relief, bringing its total contribution to over five million dollars.
Britain warned that the threat of drought and rising malnutrition in Afghanistan is serious, and more aid must be provided to ensure people—especially those in remote areas—do not face hunger during the winter.
While James Kariuki emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls, the current government has, since taking power, deprived them of education and schooling. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite Afghanistan’s healthcare sector facing a shortage of personnel.
This move has deprived millions of girls from receiving an education.
In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs—even in UN offices in Afghanistan.
