The UNSC will hold a meeting next week focused on Afghanistan, with a briefing by Roza Otunbayeva concerning human rights, particularly for women and girls. The meeting is part of a series planned for March. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announces the return of Sirajuddin Haqqani as security concerns grow with Daesh’s activities in the region.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to convene next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting will feature a briefing by Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Denmark’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Christina Markus Lassen, will preside over the session, which aims to address pressing human rights issues, particularly those affecting Afghan women and girls.
In addition to the upcoming meeting, Lassen has planned two more sessions for Afghanistan in March: a quarterly meeting and a consultation regarding the extension of UNAMA’s mandate. The first session, scheduled for March 10, will prioritize the human rights conditions of Afghan women and girls and will include input from relevant civil society activists. The specific contents of Otunbayeva’s report have not been disclosed but are expected to focus significantly on human rights topics.
Germany’s Foreign Minister has expressed concern over ongoing restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan, indicating that such measures could have serious ramifications. As March 8 marks International Women’s Day, the UN Settlement Programme has underscored its commitment to supporting Afghan women’s rights, participation, and empowerment, highlighting the pivotal role of access to essential services in improving the conditions of Afghan women and girls.
In another development, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Interior Affairs, has recently returned to Kabul after receiving medical treatment abroad. His return follows various reports stating that he had been in both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Mujahid also mentioned that Daesh has established a training facility in Pakistan, indicating a troubling development regarding regional security.
The UNSC is actively addressing the critical issues surrounding human rights in Afghanistan, particularly those related to women and girls, through a series of meetings planned for March. Despite ongoing challenges, the international community continues to advocate for the rights and empowerment of Afghan women. Concurrently, developments regarding key figures in Afghanistan’s governance and the ongoing concerns over regional security due to Daesh’s activities signal a complex and evolving situation in the country.
Original Source: www.ariananews.af
