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UN: Afghanistan is one of seven countries that has no women in its cabinet

The United Nations said women have participated in diplomacy for centuries, but their contribution has often been overlooked.

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In a statement marking International Women's Day in Diplomacy, the United Nations said that Afghanistan is one of only seven countries that does not have a single woman in its cabinet.

International Women's Day in Diplomacy is celebrated on June 24 every year at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The United Nations said women have participated in diplomacy for centuries, but their contribution has often been overlooked.

The organization stated that only 26 countries in the world are led by women; and that women make up 23.3% of the total number of cabinet members worldwide. This is a slight increase on 2024.

However, Afghanistan is one of only seven countries in the world that does not have any women in its cabinet.

Amina Mohammad, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, says: "This day is not just an occasion, but emphasizes the importance of women's participation in governments and peace negotiations at the international level. If we leave half of humanity behind, we cannot reach our common goals.

"Research shows that when women participate in peace processes, the likelihood of reaching a lasting agreement increases and the results are more durable and inclusive. We need to promote policies that encourage women's participation in political decision-making processes," she said.

At the same time the European Union's charge d'affaires in Afghanistan says the resistance, courage and hope of Afghan women is extraordinary. Rafaela Iodis, in Kabul, says that women in Afghanistan's diplomacy not only break barriers; they also build the future of this country.

Iodis said: "Since coming to Afghanistan, I have met the most resilient, courageous and hardworking women who are determined to shape the future of this country."

However, the Islamic Emirate has always said that women's rights have been secured more than ever before in accordance with Islamic Sharia.

But on the eve of the upcoming UN-led Doha meeting, which is scheduled to be held in less than five days, reactions to the absence of Afghan women at this meeting have increased.

In the latest case, the G7 asked in a letter to the United Nations that civil society and women should be part of the Doha talks.

 

Related stories:

UN Women call for global action ‘to end restrictions on Afghan women’


Women’s rights in Afghanistan not negotiable: rights groups

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IEA delegation attends conference for ‘Promoting Mining Cooperation’ in China

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The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said on Saturday in a statement that its delegation participated in a conference titled "Promoting Mining Cooperation" in China’s Hunan province.

The Ministry stated the conference aims to build a well-equipped laboratory in Afghanistan, increase the capacity of technical and professional employees of the Ministry of Mines, and encourage investors in the mineral resources sector of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Chinese investors expressed their interest in Afghanistan’s gold, copper, mica, talc, oil, gas, lithium, lead and zinc mines.

At the conference, the ministry’s deputy minister of finance and administration and head of the delegation Hussamuddin Saberi talked about Afghanistan's natural resources contracts and investment opportunities and considered holding such programs effective for the relations between the two countries.

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Uzbekistan, EU envoys meet to discuss Afghanistan

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Uzbekistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, on Friday met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of Uzbek-European relations in the Afghan direction, the efforts of the international community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the country and the possibility of using the international transport and logistics hub in Termez to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Hakala highly appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan to develop a consolidated regional position on Afghanistan, establish long-term peace and stability in the country, according to the statement.

The parties expressed mutual interest in continuing bilateral consultations on the Afghan issue, the statement added.

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UN expert calls for comprehensive, rights-focused action plan for Afghanistan

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A UN expert on Friday called on the international community to devise and implement a comprehensive, human rights-centered action plan to address the human rights crisis in Afghanistan.

“The absence of a unified, forceful response from the international community has emboldened the Taliban (IEA),” UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said.

In his latest report to the UN General Assembly, Bennett said that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is worsening, which includes systematic gender oppression, amounting to gender persecution and which many Afghans term “gender apartheid” with intergenerational implications.

Bennett expressed concern about the new “vice and virtue” law, announced in August, which he believes has institutionalized an expanding list of restrictions that “blatantly violate the rights of women and girls.”

He also expressed concern about the “shrinking civic space” in Afghanistan, the situation of minorities, journalists, and former government officials and security personnel.

“Justice, equality, and the rule of law are being systematically undermined,” he said.

The UN expert also called for increased funding and support for Afghan civil society and humanitarian efforts to mitigate the crisis.

Bennett urged the IEA to reverse its “repressive policies” and reinstate basic human rights. He pressed the international community to take a coordinated, multifaceted approach to support the Afghan people.

Bennett urged states not to normalize relations with the IEA until there are demonstrable human rights improvements and pathways to justice and accountability.

This comes as the Islamic Emirate has said that it is committed to ensuring human rights, including the rights of women and girls, according to Sharia, and this is an internal issue of Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate has banned Richard Bennett from traveling to Afghanistan, saying that he exaggerates small issues.

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