UN / AFGHANISTAN
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STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 5:24
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 20 DECEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
SHOTLIST:
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Exterior shot, UN Headquarters
20 DECEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The Taliban remain essentially in control of the country, but unable to satisfactorily address terrorist groups operating inside Afghanistan.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“There is no significant visible political opposition to the Taliban inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course, vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The Taliban reject the need for any sort of intra-Afghan dialogue and claim that their government is sufficiently representative.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Women have been banned as of 9 November from visiting most public parks, bath houses, and gymnasiums. Their social space is now being restricted as much as their political space. The prevention of secondary education will mean that in two years there will be no girls entering into university.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“This decision is extremely unpopular among Afghans and even within the Taliban leadership. It has been criticized by the entire Islamic world. It has undermined the Taliban’s relationship with the international community. But it remains in force causing damage today that will be felt long into the future.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The de facto authorities have announced the collection of more revenues in the first ten months of 2022 than the Republic collected in 2021 and 2020, despite an economic contraction of 20 percent in 2021. With these revenues, and by reducing the costs of government, the Taliban have managed to finance their operational budget and have indicated they have resources to begin some development projects.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“While the Taliban’s economic management has been more effective than expected, it should also be recognized that international donors continue to feed more than half of the population. The cash payments required to deliver humanitarian assistance indirectly inject liquidity into the economy. Without this assistance, the picture in Afghanistan would be far bleaker.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“While we do maintain constructive engagement with de facto authorities, we also face routine interference and restrictions. They have detained humanitarian staff, tried to influence, or control humanitarian response, and constrained women’s freedom of movement and involvement in humanitarian action. The mahram requirement, in particular, is what hampers women’s participation in humanitarian action the most and persistently impacts women’s access to services.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Effective humanitarian assistance relies on the meaningful participation of women. - We cannot overstate their capacities, insight, and ability to reach women and girls across provinces, across communities.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“I regret to begin my remarks with very unfortunate news about the Taliban’s directive just announced banning all women from attending university throughout Afghanistan. As the situation wasn’t dire enough, this announcement now marks a new low in violation of most fundamental and universal human rights for all of humanity.”
20. Wide shot, Security Council
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“Yet after 16 months forced takeover of power by the Taliban, there is no hope for a positive change and progress in the overall social, economic, security and political situation in Afghanistan.”
22. Wide shot, Security Council
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“Let me reiterate that oppression of people including women is not embedded in Afghan culture, nor is it a tenet of Islam. It is a component of the Taliban’s extremist ideology, and it must not be allowed to continue.”
24. Wide shot, Security Council
STORYLINE:
Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the Taliban’s decision to suspend women from secondary education is “causing damage today that will be felt long into the future.”
Briefing the Security Council Today (20 Dec), Otunbayeva announced that in Afghanistan, women have been banned as of 9 November from visiting most public parks, bath houses, and gymnasiums.
She added, “Their social space is now being restricted as much as their political space. The prevention of secondary education will mean that in two years, there will be no girls entering into university.”
She added that the decision is “extremely unpopular among Afghans and even within the Taliban leadership. It has been criticized by the entire Islamic world. It has undermined the Taliban’s relationship with the international community. But it remains in force.”
Also addressing the Security Council, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said, “as the situation wasn’t dire enough, this announcement now marks a new low in violation of most fundamental and universal human rights for all of humanity.”
He reiterated, “oppression of people, including women, is not embedded in Afghan culture, nor is it a tenet of Islam. It is a component of the Taliban’s extremist ideology, and it must not be allowed to continue.”
The Special Representative for Afghanistan also said that on 13 November the Taliban conveyed that Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhunzada had ordered that judges implement capital and corporal punishments, if conditions are met according to Sharia law.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented that these punishments have taken place ever since the Taliban takeover.
Since the announcement of the Taliban leader’s instruction, however, they have become increasingly public.
International criticisms of these corporal punishments as violations of human rights have been rejected by the Taliban as being anti-Islamic, Otunbayeva said.
She then stressed that the death penalty is incompatible with the core principles of international human rights law. The UN uniformly criticizes all countries that apply the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The Special Representative for Afghanistan, noted that the Taliban remain essentially in control of Afghanistan, but they are unable to satisfactorily address terrorist groups operating in the country.
She also noted, “There is no significant visible political opposition to the Taliban inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course, vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The Taliban reject the need for any sort of intra-Afghan dialogue and claim that their government is sufficiently representative.”
Otunbayeva also stressed that the only way forward for Afghanistan is through a more pluralistic polity, where all Afghans, especially women and minorities, see themselves represented and have a real voice in decision-making.
On the economic front, she said that the de facto authorities had announced the collection of more revenues in the first ten months of 2022 than the Republic collected in 2021 and 2020, despite an economic contraction of 20 percent in 2021.
She added, “With these revenues, and by reducing the costs of government, the Taliban have managed to finance their operational budget and have indicated they have resources to begin some development projects.”
She explained that while the Taliban’s economic management has been more effective than expected, “it should also be recognized that international donors continue to feed more than half of the population. The cash payments required to deliver humanitarian assistance indirectly inject liquidity into the economy. Without this assistance, the picture in Afghanistan would be far bleaker.”
Via video conference, also Martin Griffiths briefed the Security Council.
He noted that 97 percent of Afghans live in poverty, two-thirds of the population need humanitarian assistance to survive, and twenty million people face acute hunger.
Half of the people urgently need access to clean water and sanitation, and 1.1 million teenage girls remain banned from school.
Nearly 7 million Afghan nationals remain in neighboring countries, including as refugees, and more than 3.4 million conflict-induced internally displaced people are still to find solutions.
Griffiths added that Afghanistan must also contend with a worsening climate crisis.
A third consecutive drought is looming, bringing with it threats of more displacement, more disease, and more death.
He continued saying that winter is already in full swing, causing temperatures to plummet.
This week temperatures will dip to minus 10 degrees Celsius in remote areas of Ghor province, which earlier this year registered pre-famine conditions.
Sharing some of the challenges that we humanitarians encounter in our Afghanistan operations, Griffiths said, “While we do maintain constructive engagement with de facto authorities, we also face routine interference and restrictions. They have detained humanitarian staff, tried to influence, or control humanitarian response, and constrained women’s freedom of movement and involvement in humanitarian action. The mahram requirement, in particular, is what hampers women’s participation in humanitarian action the most and persistently impacts women’s access to services.”
He concluded, “Effective humanitarian assistance relies on the meaningful participation of women. - We cannot overstate their capacities, insight, and ability to reach women and girls across provinces, across communities.”
TRT: 5:24
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 20 DECEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
SHOTLIST:
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Exterior shot, UN Headquarters
20 DECEMBER 2022, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The Taliban remain essentially in control of the country, but unable to satisfactorily address terrorist groups operating inside Afghanistan.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“There is no significant visible political opposition to the Taliban inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course, vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The Taliban reject the need for any sort of intra-Afghan dialogue and claim that their government is sufficiently representative.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Women have been banned as of 9 November from visiting most public parks, bath houses, and gymnasiums. Their social space is now being restricted as much as their political space. The prevention of secondary education will mean that in two years there will be no girls entering into university.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“This decision is extremely unpopular among Afghans and even within the Taliban leadership. It has been criticized by the entire Islamic world. It has undermined the Taliban’s relationship with the international community. But it remains in force causing damage today that will be felt long into the future.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The de facto authorities have announced the collection of more revenues in the first ten months of 2022 than the Republic collected in 2021 and 2020, despite an economic contraction of 20 percent in 2021. With these revenues, and by reducing the costs of government, the Taliban have managed to finance their operational budget and have indicated they have resources to begin some development projects.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“While the Taliban’s economic management has been more effective than expected, it should also be recognized that international donors continue to feed more than half of the population. The cash payments required to deliver humanitarian assistance indirectly inject liquidity into the economy. Without this assistance, the picture in Afghanistan would be far bleaker.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“While we do maintain constructive engagement with de facto authorities, we also face routine interference and restrictions. They have detained humanitarian staff, tried to influence, or control humanitarian response, and constrained women’s freedom of movement and involvement in humanitarian action. The mahram requirement, in particular, is what hampers women’s participation in humanitarian action the most and persistently impacts women’s access to services.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Effective humanitarian assistance relies on the meaningful participation of women. - We cannot overstate their capacities, insight, and ability to reach women and girls across provinces, across communities.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“I regret to begin my remarks with very unfortunate news about the Taliban’s directive just announced banning all women from attending university throughout Afghanistan. As the situation wasn’t dire enough, this announcement now marks a new low in violation of most fundamental and universal human rights for all of humanity.”
20. Wide shot, Security Council
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“Yet after 16 months forced takeover of power by the Taliban, there is no hope for a positive change and progress in the overall social, economic, security and political situation in Afghanistan.”
22. Wide shot, Security Council
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
“Let me reiterate that oppression of people including women is not embedded in Afghan culture, nor is it a tenet of Islam. It is a component of the Taliban’s extremist ideology, and it must not be allowed to continue.”
24. Wide shot, Security Council
STORYLINE:
Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the Taliban’s decision to suspend women from secondary education is “causing damage today that will be felt long into the future.”
Briefing the Security Council Today (20 Dec), Otunbayeva announced that in Afghanistan, women have been banned as of 9 November from visiting most public parks, bath houses, and gymnasiums.
She added, “Their social space is now being restricted as much as their political space. The prevention of secondary education will mean that in two years, there will be no girls entering into university.”
She added that the decision is “extremely unpopular among Afghans and even within the Taliban leadership. It has been criticized by the entire Islamic world. It has undermined the Taliban’s relationship with the international community. But it remains in force.”
Also addressing the Security Council, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said, “as the situation wasn’t dire enough, this announcement now marks a new low in violation of most fundamental and universal human rights for all of humanity.”
He reiterated, “oppression of people, including women, is not embedded in Afghan culture, nor is it a tenet of Islam. It is a component of the Taliban’s extremist ideology, and it must not be allowed to continue.”
The Special Representative for Afghanistan also said that on 13 November the Taliban conveyed that Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhunzada had ordered that judges implement capital and corporal punishments, if conditions are met according to Sharia law.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented that these punishments have taken place ever since the Taliban takeover.
Since the announcement of the Taliban leader’s instruction, however, they have become increasingly public.
International criticisms of these corporal punishments as violations of human rights have been rejected by the Taliban as being anti-Islamic, Otunbayeva said.
She then stressed that the death penalty is incompatible with the core principles of international human rights law. The UN uniformly criticizes all countries that apply the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The Special Representative for Afghanistan, noted that the Taliban remain essentially in control of Afghanistan, but they are unable to satisfactorily address terrorist groups operating in the country.
She also noted, “There is no significant visible political opposition to the Taliban inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course, vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The exiled politicians of the Republic are of course vocal critics, but they are fragmented, and their statements have decreasing resonance for the population inside Afghanistan. The Taliban reject the need for any sort of intra-Afghan dialogue and claim that their government is sufficiently representative.”
Otunbayeva also stressed that the only way forward for Afghanistan is through a more pluralistic polity, where all Afghans, especially women and minorities, see themselves represented and have a real voice in decision-making.
On the economic front, she said that the de facto authorities had announced the collection of more revenues in the first ten months of 2022 than the Republic collected in 2021 and 2020, despite an economic contraction of 20 percent in 2021.
She added, “With these revenues, and by reducing the costs of government, the Taliban have managed to finance their operational budget and have indicated they have resources to begin some development projects.”
She explained that while the Taliban’s economic management has been more effective than expected, “it should also be recognized that international donors continue to feed more than half of the population. The cash payments required to deliver humanitarian assistance indirectly inject liquidity into the economy. Without this assistance, the picture in Afghanistan would be far bleaker.”
Via video conference, also Martin Griffiths briefed the Security Council.
He noted that 97 percent of Afghans live in poverty, two-thirds of the population need humanitarian assistance to survive, and twenty million people face acute hunger.
Half of the people urgently need access to clean water and sanitation, and 1.1 million teenage girls remain banned from school.
Nearly 7 million Afghan nationals remain in neighboring countries, including as refugees, and more than 3.4 million conflict-induced internally displaced people are still to find solutions.
Griffiths added that Afghanistan must also contend with a worsening climate crisis.
A third consecutive drought is looming, bringing with it threats of more displacement, more disease, and more death.
He continued saying that winter is already in full swing, causing temperatures to plummet.
This week temperatures will dip to minus 10 degrees Celsius in remote areas of Ghor province, which earlier this year registered pre-famine conditions.
Sharing some of the challenges that we humanitarians encounter in our Afghanistan operations, Griffiths said, “While we do maintain constructive engagement with de facto authorities, we also face routine interference and restrictions. They have detained humanitarian staff, tried to influence, or control humanitarian response, and constrained women’s freedom of movement and involvement in humanitarian action. The mahram requirement, in particular, is what hampers women’s participation in humanitarian action the most and persistently impacts women’s access to services.”
He concluded, “Effective humanitarian assistance relies on the meaningful participation of women. - We cannot overstate their capacities, insight, and ability to reach women and girls across provinces, across communities.”
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UNIFEED
Alternate Title
unifeed221220b
Parent ID
2996316
Asset ID
2996844