KABUL (Pajhwok): UN Secretary General’s Associate Spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino has said the acting Afghan government’s move to stop Afghan girls from travelling to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for education would have its impact individually and on the whole country.
When asked about the acting Afghan government move on banning girls who have been awarded scholarships to study in the UAE from boarding planes to go to Dubai, she said: we had been pretty clear on this issue. “We recently had various people come to brief you about marking the second year that the Taliban has been systematically taking rights away from women and girls. And education is one of those essential rights that is crucial and that women are entitled to, and are not just entitled to, but they are owed as part of their human rights.”
She said: “And that also affects not just them individually, but the whole country as a society. And I think what we will continue to be doing is to call on the de facto authorities to uphold their obligations under international law. And we will continue to advocate for the rights of women, because Afghanistan cannot develop without their full participation. And it’s really heartbreaking that women who want to exercise these rights are being prevented from doing so.”
Earlier, the Al Habtoor Group chairman said the IEA security forces had barred female students from travelling to the UAE for studies.
Al Habtoor Group is one of the leading commercial companies in the UAE, operating in fields of cars, real estate, education and publishing. It has provided scholarships for about 100 Afghan girls.
The head of group, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, tweeted on Wednesday: “Am unable to express the disappointment I feel now as the Afghan female students, whom I had provided an educational scholarship in collaboration with the @uniofdubai presented by Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki @ebastaki …”
He lamented the girls were unfortunately unable to reach the Dubai Airport to continue their studies due to Taliban’s action. “This has left me lost for words to describe the disappointment I currently feel.”
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