Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), highlighted the importance of education for women and girls, as well as freedom of expression in the country, following her visit to Bamyan province.
In a message published on its official Facebook page, UNAMA stated that Ms. Gagnon met with local residents during her visit to Bamyan and discussed their challenges and concerns.
The statement added that the Deputy Representative of the UN political mission in Afghanistan also met with female entrepreneurs and visited an educational institution, a women’s rehabilitation center, and Bamyan Radio.
Female journalists at Bamyan Radio, during their meeting with the UNAMA deputy, called for continued support from media organizations for this local radio station.
UNAMA further wrote: “Local residents expressed their concerns about the sharp decline in international aid, as well as difficulties in political, social, and economic sectors, and the growing poverty.”
Additionally, during her visit, the UNAMA deputy visited a health center in Shibar district of Bamyan and met with female health workers and several local women.
This UN official’s emphasis on education, freedom of expression, and women’s and girls’ participation comes at a time when they have been deprived of their most basic rights for nearly four years.
Since taking power, the de facto government has banned girls from attending school above the sixth grade, and these restrictions have gradually expanded into various other areas.
