No Afghan Women Included: UN Envoy Defends Absence in Upcoming Taliban Meeting

Photo : AP

U.N. special envoy Roza Otunbayeva faced intense questioning from journalists regarding the omission of Afghan women from an upcoming meeting between the Taliban and envoys from 22 countries in Doha, Qatar, scheduled for June 30 and July 1. Human rights organizations criticized the exclusion, highlighting concerns over women's rights amid the Taliban's control in Afghanistan.

The Taliban came to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after two decades of conflict. Despite their control over Afghanistan, no country officially recognizes them as the legitimate government. The United Nations has indicated that formal recognition is challenging while the Taliban uphold bans on female education and employment.

Human Rights Watch Executive Director Tirana Hassan condemned the decision to hold a meeting without Afghan women's rights on the agenda, calling it "shocking" given the Taliban's increasing restrictions on women and girls. Similarly, Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard emphasized that the meeting's credibility hinges on addressing Afghanistan's human rights crisis, urging the involvement of women human rights defenders and civil society stakeholders.

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Otunbayeva, a former president and foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan, defended the U.N.'s position after briefing the Security Council, asserting that no external pressures dictated the exclusion of Afghan women from the Doha meeting. However, she confirmed that Afghan women would not be present at the main session.

The meeting in Doha marks the third U.N.-sponsored gathering on the Afghan crisis. Notably, the Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second in February, demanding exclusion of Afghan civil society members and recognition as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers.

In preparation for the upcoming meeting, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo will chair the session, with Otunbayeva and a few female special envoys on Afghanistan also in attendance. Despite the exclusion from the main meeting, a hybrid session with Afghan civil society representatives is planned just before, followed by a broader engagement on July 2.

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law restricts girls' education beyond age 11, limits women's public presence, excludes them from many professions, and enforces strict dress codes and male guardianship requirements. Otunbayeva emphasized that the meeting aims to address critical issues such as private business, banking, and counter-narcotics policies, stressing the importance of involving women in these discussions.

Furthermore, Otunbayeva highlighted the humanitarian impact of climate change in Afghanistan, deepening the country's crisis. Lisa Doughten, the U.N. humanitarian office's finance director, underscored that over 50% of Afghanistan's population, approximately 23.7 million people, require humanitarian aid due to extreme weather events, droughts, and flash flooding exacerbated by climate change.

Looking ahead, the U.N. seeks to establish working groups post-meeting to facilitate ongoing discussions on replacing opium-producing crops, addressing addiction, combating crime, and improving banking and private sector initiatives in Afghanistan. Otunbayeva expressed a pressing need for policy shifts to enable girls' access to education, highlighting Afghanistan's unique position within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as the only member country that prohibits girls from attending school.

The humanitarian office's Doughten warned that the ban on girls' education contributes to increased child marriages and early childbearing among Afghan women and girls, leading to severe physical, emotional, and economic consequences. Despite the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meeting, the U.N. remains committed to engaging with civil society and advocating for women's rights in Afghanistan.

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