Recently photographs have emerged in which personnel from UN were photographed in front of a Taliban Flag in Afghanistan. These photographs surfaced during a visit to the country by its deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed this week to the war torn country when she met the de facto authorities , where she expressed alarm over women’s rights violations.
Four Day visit of UN high ranking officials in Afghanistan
UN delegation visited Afghanistan on a four day visit and comprised of Amina Mohammed, the highest ranking woman in United Nations, along with Executive Director of UN Sima Bahous and Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Political, Peace building Affairs and Peace Operations Khaled Khiari.
It was a whirlwind visit, UN delegation met Taliban leaders in Kabul and Kandhar and expressed alarm over recent restrictions on education and work of women and girls across the country.
Photograph controversy involving UN Security Personnel
However during the visit of UN delegation a controversy in which some UN personnel’s were photographed in front of the Taliban flag, which has drawn widespread criticism and condemnation from various quarters.
Clarification from UN
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Secretary General Antonio Guterres apprised the reporters, about the incident:
“That photo should never have been taken. It clearly shows a significant lapse in judgment. It was a mistake and we apologise for it. And in terms of that, I believe the supervisor for these officers has spoken to them on this,”
Haq further stated that photograph was taken while Deputy Secretary General was meeting the defacto leaders in Aghanistan, in which her security had been taken to the meeting and were waiting next door.
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National Resistance Front of Afghanistan dismayed
A post written by Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan Ali Maisam Nazary stated that the “@UN personnel in Kabul taking a photo w/a terrorist group’s flag brings the United Nations impartiality & integrity into question.
Nazary also stated in a reference to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
“We kindly ask @antonioguterres to investigate this matter & for @UNAMAnews to prevent such insensitive actions that can tarnish its reputation,”
Nazary also posted two photographs showing the UN personnel standing in front of the Taliban flag.
Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed conveys concerns to Taliban Leadership over its treatment of women
On behalf of the Secretary-General, Mohammed led a high-level UN delegation that expressed concern about the Taliban’s recent decree prohibiting women from working for national and international non-governmental organisations, a move that the UN said undermines the work of numerous organisations that assist millions of vulnerable Afghans.
Mohammed stated:
“My message was very clear: while we recognise the important exemptions made, these restrictions present Afghan women and girls with a future that confines them in their own homes, violating their rights and depriving the communities of their services,”
Mohammed stated:
“Our collective ambition is for a prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, and on a path to sustainable development. But right now, Afghanistan is isolating itself, in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis and one of the most vulnerable nations on earth to climate change,”
The Taliban issued an order closing universities to female students across the country until further notice, barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted women and girls’ freedom of movement, excluded women from most areas of the workforce, and prohibited women from using parks, gyms, and public bath houses.
Anima Mohammed meets affected communities , humanitarian workers and civil society
During the visit Mohammed and Bahous also met with affected communities , humanitarian workers , civil society and other key actors in Kabul, Kandhar and Herat.
Bahous said while expressing UN Women’s solidarity with Afghan women and girls and vowing to continue amplifying their voices to regain all their rights.
“What is happening in Afghanistan is a grave women’s rights crisis and a wake-up call for the international community. It shows how quickly decades of progress on women’s rights can be reversed in a matter of days,”
Further Bahous stated
“We have witnessed extraordinary resilience. Afghan women left us no doubt of their courage and refusal to be erased from public life. They will continue to advocate and fight for their rights, and we are duty bound to support them in doing so,”
Humanitarian aid of UN and its partners
The UN said in a press release issued here that it and its partners, including national and international non-governmental organisations, are assisting more than 25 million Afghans who rely on humanitarian aid to survive, and that they are committed to staying and delivering.
According to the UN, the Taliban’s most recent decrees prohibiting women from working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have forced many partners to halt operations that can no longer be safely and meaningfully delivered.
While recent exemptions to the ban imposed by the de facto authorities are allowing humanitarians to continue – and in some cases resume – operations, the UN stated that these are limited to a few sectors and activities.
Mohammed also said
“The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is predicated on principles that require full, safe and unhindered access for all aid workers, including women,”
High level consultations on Afghanistan across Gulf and Asia , prior to Afghanistan tour
The top UN leaders’ visit to Afghanistan came after a series of high-level consultations on Afghanistan across the Gulf and Asia. The delegation met with the OIC’s leadership, the Islamic Development Bank, groups of Afghan women in Ankara and Islamabad, and a group of Ambassadors and Special Envoys to Afghanistan based in Doha.
According to the release, the delegation met with regional government leaders and religious leaders to advocate for the critical role and full participation of women, as well as to rally support for the Afghan people.
It went on to say that throughout the visits, countries and partners recognised the UN’s critical role in building bridges to long-term solutions, as well as the urgency of providing lifesaving assistance and maintaining effective engagement, led by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
They requested that efforts be stepped up to reflect the gravity of the situation, emphasising the importance of a coordinated international response. The need for a revitalised and realistic political path was repeatedly emphasised, and all remained firm on fundamental principles such as women’s and girls’ rights to education, work, and public life in Afghanistan.
There was broad agreement that the leadership of the region and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on these issues was critical. According to the release, the proposal for an international conference on women and girls in the Muslim World in March 2023 was also considered and agreed in principle.
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