KABUL— On International Women’s Day, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, Chargée d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to education for all women and girls, calling it essential for building a prosperous nation.
This year’s International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, carries the United Nations theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
The renewed calls for gender equality come as Afghan women continue to face severe restrictions under Taliban rule. Women and girls have been systematically barred from education, employment, and basic freedoms, including freedom of speech and movement.
Despite these challenges, Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, noted that Afghan women continue to lead, build, and support their communities in various ways.
Afghan women’s rights activists have launched a global campaign to recognize the Taliban’s policies as gender apartheid, a movement that has gained support from international human rights organizations, including U.N. Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Richard Bennett.
The campaign aims to increase international pressure on the Taliban and ensure that Afghan women’s rights remain a priority on the global agenda.
