KABUL, Afghanistan — The Purple Saturdays Movement, led by women’s rights activist Maryam Maroof Arwin, has called for the removal of Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), accusing her of whitewashing the Taliban’s actions and failing to stand up for human rights.
In a statement, the movement alleged that UNAMA’s leadership under Ms. Otunbayeva has bolstered the Taliban’s position while intensifying the systemic oppression of Afghan women.
“UNAMA, instead of taking a firm stance against the Taliban’s flagrant violations of fundamental human rights, has pursued a policy of tolerance and appeasement,” the statement said. The group criticized Ms. Otunbayeva for advocating engagement with the Taliban during her quarterly briefing to the U.N. Security Council last Thursday.
The Purple Saturdays Movement argued that continued engagement with the Taliban has emboldened the group to further violate human rights, particularly women’s rights, with impunity.
“Engagement with the Taliban has not led to any flexibility or responsiveness to the demands of the Afghan people or the international community,” the statement read. “Instead, it has enabled the Taliban to violate human rights, especially women’s rights, without fear of accountability or meaningful pressure.”
The group condemned the U.N.’s calls for engagement and demanded a review of UNAMA’s leadership and policies. It urged the United Nations to adopt a stronger stance in defending human rights, particularly those of Afghan women.
The movement warned that if the U.N. continues its current policies, its members will file an official petition with the U.N. Secretary-General to oppose the renewal of UNAMA’s mandate and demand the closure of its offices in Afghanistan.
The activists also appealed to China and Russia, urging them not to prioritize short-term strategic interests over their national security. They cautioned against trusting the Taliban, citing the growing threat of extremist groups in Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan needs positive change now more than ever,” the group said, describing the Taliban as a shared enemy of all and warning that supporting the group could transform Afghanistan into a greater threat to regional and global peace and security.
The Purple Saturdays Movement concluded by emphasizing the urgent need for international action to protect the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and to address the humanitarian and security crises in the country.
