UN / AFGHANISTAN WOMEN GIRLS

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13-Jan-2023 00:04:14
Several members of the Security Council expressed “grave concern regarding the critical situation” of women and girls in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to “immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls, adhere to their commitments set out in Security Council resolution 2593, and respect the rights of women and girls.” UNIFEED

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STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN WOMEN GIRLS
TRT: 4:14
SOURCE: UNIFEED
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 13 JANUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

RECENT - NEW YORK CITY

1.Wide shot, exterior, United Nations

13 JANUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY

2.Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout

RECENT - NEW YORK CITY

3. Close up, camera person

13 JANUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations:
“Today the Council convenes to discuss the situation in Afghanistan with the Security Council signatories of the statement of Shared Commitment for the Principles of Women, Peace and Security. Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom and in its national capacity, the United States have come together to express grave concern regarding the critical situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. We urged the Taliban to immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls adhere to their commitments set out in Security Council resolution 2593 and respect the rights of women and girls. And their full equal and meaningful, participatory and inclusion across all aspects of society in Afghanistan, from political and economic to education and public space. Such measures include the banning of Afghan women from working in national and international nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan, as well as excluding women and girls from universities and secondary schools. Other restrictions have also been put in place limiting women and girls’ ability to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms. They are contrary to Afghanistan's obligation as party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Women are central and critical to operations to relieve the dire humanitarian situation. They have unique expertise and access to populations their male colleagues cannot reach, providing critical lifesaving support to women and girls. Without their participation in aid delivery in Afghanistan and the essential expertise, NGOs will be unable to reach those most in need, in particular women and girls to provide lifesaving materials and services. We reiterate the Council's demand on all parties to allow full safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors regardless of gender. Moreover, a stable economically viable and peaceful Afghanistan is only attainable and sustainable if all Afghans including women and girls have access to and receive education and fully equally and meaningfully participate in and contribute to the country's future and development in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, 2593 and 2626. As the mandate renewal of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan approaches, we reaffirm our strong support for UNAMA, not least in their valuable contribution to gender equality, the empowerment and protection of women and girls, the full protection of the human rights including education, work, and their freedom of movement. The full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all levels and stages of decision making and governance processes in Afghanistan is necessary for achieving an inclusive political dialogue and participatory governance. The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan must remain high on the agenda of the Security Council and we will continue to closely monitor the development on the ground and respond accordingly. As council members, we stand with all women and girls in Afghanistan and reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing the rights and needs during our discussion.”

5. Wide shot, ambassadors leaving the stakeout

STORYLINE:

Several members of the Security Council expressed “grave concern regarding the critical situation” of women and girls in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to “immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls, adhere to their commitments set out in Security Council resolution 2593, and respect the rights of women and girls.”

Before the Council’s closed meeting on the situation in Afghanistan today (13 Jan), Japanese Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro, whose country is the President of the Council this month, spoke to reporters on behalf of the signatories to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Shared Commitments, namely Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ambassador Kimihiro said that oppressive measures include the banning of Afghan women from working in national and international nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan, as well as excluding women and girls from universities and secondary schools; other restrictions have also been put in place limiting women and girls’ ability to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

He reiterated, “they are contrary to Afghanistan's obligation as party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”

The Japanese Ambassador continued, “Women are central and critical to operations to relieve the dire humanitarian situation. They have unique expertise and access to populations their male colleagues cannot reach, providing critical lifesaving support to women and girls.”

Ambassador Kimihiro reiterated, “Without their participation in aid delivery in Afghanistan and the essential expertise, NGOs will be unable to reach those most in need, in particular women and girls to provide lifesaving materials and services.”

“We reiterate the Council's demand on all parties to allow full safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors regardless of gender,” he added.

Moreover, Ambassador Kimihiro said, “a stable economically viable and peaceful Afghanistan is only attainable and sustainable if all Afghans including women and girls have access to and receive education and fully equally and meaningfully participate in and contribute to the country's future and development in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, 2593 and 2626.”

As the mandate renewal of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan approaches, he reaffirmed countries “strong support for UNAMA, not least in their valuable contribution to gender equality, the empowerment and protection of women and girls, the full protection of the human rights including education, work, and their freedom of movement.”

Ambassador Kimihiro reiterated, “The full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all levels and stages of decision making and governance processes in Afghanistan is necessary for achieving an inclusive political dialogue and participatory governance.”

The Japanese Ambassador concluded, “The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan must remain high on the agenda of the Security Council and we will continue to closely monitor the development on the ground and respond accordingly,” adding that “As council members, we stand with all women and girls in Afghanistan and reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing the rights and needs during our discussion.”
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