India requests the Protection of Women's Rights in Afghanistan during a UN Meeting

By: WE Staff | Friday, 21 October 2022

India urged the international community not to turn a blind eye when the rights of women and minorities are being violated at the UN, expressing alarm over an escalating trend to exclude women from public life in Afghanistan.

"The world cannot look the other way when the rights of women and minorities are being trampled upon. There has been an increasing attempt towards removing women from public life in Afghanistan. We call for women and minorities to be included in Afghanistan's future and their rights to be fully respected, as affirmed in UNSCR 2593," said Ambassador R. Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on women, peace, and security.

Women in Afghanistan are denied their fundamental rights to non-discrimination, education, employment, public engagement, and health due to a crisis in human rights.

India's deputy representative to the UNSC remarked that empowering women and promoting gender equality are necessary steps in the development of inclusive, resilient, and peaceful communities.

Armed conflicts and terrorist attacks continued to have a devastating impact on women's lives and dignity. Women's participation has been crucial to resolving conflicts and securing peace, he continued. "Sustainable peace cannot be achieved unless violence against women is eliminated and their equal and meaningful participation in public life is promoted."

India requests the protection of women's rights in Afghanistan during a UN meeting

The ambassador emphasised that although the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda has the potential to be revolutionary, there are still obstacles standing in its way. "Inequality and discriminatory power structures, as well as a lack of enabling environment, undermine effective conflict resolution and peace processes."

The governments, the UN, the regional organisations, civil societies, and other actors must carry out their obligations to ensure women's full, equitable, and meaningful involvement in order for the WPS normative peacework to be effective.

India advocated for women's engagement in political discourse and decision-making for an inclusive society during the UNSC debate.