KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of Afghan women attending a special session of the European Parliament have called for formation of an inclusive government and reopening of all girls' schools in Afghanistan.
After the regime change in Afghanistan on August 15, all girls' schools above sixth grade were closed, but the caretaker government of Afghanistan has announced that all girls’ schools would be reopened in the new academic year.
The European Parliament's session on the situation of Afghan women began on Tuesday under the title 'Afghan Women's Days'.
According to a statement of the parliament, the session discussed Afghan women’s problems and current challenges they face in Afghanistan after the regime change.
The European Parliament in the statement said that the meeting will continue today and will be attended by a number of Afghan women, representatives of the United Nations and international organizations.
Shaharzad Akbar, former head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Sima Samar, former adviser to the Afghan president, Zarifa Ghaffari, former mayor of Maidan Wardak, Sahra Karimi, former head of Afghan Film and a number of other Afghan women attended the session.
Sima Samar, a former adviser to the President of Afghanistan, called on the caretaker government of Taliban to form an inclusive government in the country.
Samar said Islam revealed with the word "read" and its purpose was education for everyone including men and women. She said women make up half of the country's population and should be able to exercise their rights and freedoms.
Shaharzad Akbar said, "It is not acceptable to me that in 2022, there will be a country in the world where girls do not have access to education and women are prevented from working; I consider this a gender apartheid.”
Amina Mohammad, the deputy secretary general of the UN, said at the assembly that Afghan women and girls had made good progress in achieving their rights over the past two decades, but they were currently losing their rights.
Angelina Jolie, a Hollywood actress who is also the UN Special Representative for Refugees, also asked the current Afghan government to reopen all girls' schools and allow women to participate freely in social and political activities.
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