UN calls for engagement with interim Afghan govt

KABUL (Pajhwok): UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) head Roza Otunbayeva has presented her report to the Security Council’s special session on Afghanistan, highlighting the country’s overall situation, particularly the rights of women and girls.

In her report, she recalled when former secretary-general Kofi Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2001, he began his address with a powerful statement: “Today in Afghanistan, a girl will be born.”

But the question, she said, lingered: “Who is that girl today? Is she a university student forced into exile for an education, a qualified professional now confined to her home, or a young girl struggling to find water for her family in a country ravaged by drought?”

The NAMA chief added the questions highlighted Afghanistan’s complex and multifaceted challenges, with no easy answers in sight.

Meanwhile, the report emphasised the country’s need for an inclusive and responsive system of government to respect human rights.

In addition, the diplomat said, visits by Islamic scholars from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have underlined the importance of girls’ education, women’s rights, and inclusive governance.

Despite the lack of trust on all sides, the doors to dialogue remained open, she said, adding Afghanistan had endured decades of conflict, but the current moment offered an opportunity for positive change.

The girls born in the country today should have the chance to contribute to a peaceful, connected Afghanistan, free from poverty, discrimination, and hopelessness, the report continued.

Otunbayeva emphasised on the international community to continue engaging to ensure the vision became a reality.

The report also highlighted the devastating impact of three years of drought in a country where nearly 80% of the population relies on agriculture.

Climate change and water scarcity are wreaking havoc on people’s lives, leading to what’s referred to as “upside-down migration,” where families move from areas with everything but water to places where water is the primary concern.

A Moscow-format meeting in Russia was set to focus on an inclusive government, with the de facto authorities aiming to demonstrate inclusivity despite growing legitimacy concerns, the report said.

However, uncertainty regarding rights, accountability, representation, and justice poses significant obstacles to internal and international legitimacy.

Despite the challenges, it explained, there was positive news regarding reduction in poppy cultivation, potentially benefitting Afghan farmers and addressing drug addiction issues.

Humanitarian funding remains a concern, with a significant gap threatening the well-being of millions facing food insecurity, especially as winter approaches.

UNAMA’s engagement strategy seeks to moderate the policies of the de facto authorities and align Afghanistan with international norms.

While policies excluding women are unacceptable to the international community, UNAMA believes that dialogue and engagement remain crucial to changing these policies without implying recognition or acceptance.

“A reframed engagement strategy may require more structured and purposeful coordination among the international community and the inclusion of an intra-Afghan dialogue,” the report continued.

“It is well known that our engagement strategy has been significantly undermined by the more than 50 decrees the IEA have issued aimed at eliminating women from public life and education.

“In the meantime, we are greatly concerned by the humanitarian funding gap. As of one week ago, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan had received US $872 million, approximately only 28 per cent of the $3.2 billion requested.”

It confirmed many programmes had already closed due to insufficient funding just as winter is fast approaching and lives are most at risk. This means that 15.2 million Afghans now facing acute food insecurity could be pushed towards famine in the coming months.

“I urge donors to heed our humanitarian appeal with as much generosity as possible before winter comes.”

sa/mud