DOHA, Qatar — At an International Women’s Day gathering, Amanda McGregor, Australia’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, highlighted the escalating restrictions on women under Taliban rule, urging global action to protect their rights.
According to a statement by Australian interim mission to Afghanistan in Doha, the event honored Afghan women’s resilience and cultural contributions.
In her remarks, McGregor underscored the deep concerns shared by female foreign ministers from 18 countries, who issued a joint statement condemning the systematic violations of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
She emphasized the Taliban’s continued restrictions on Afghan women and girls, barring them from education, healthcare, employment, and public life.
She called attention to Afghanistan’s obligations under international law, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, to which the country remains a signatory.
The event featured artistic and cultural expressions from women, including a poetry recital by an Afghan student from Georgetown University in Qatar, watercolors by another student, and photographs from the U.N. Women exhibition A Handmade Tale, which highlights the role of Afghan women in traditional crafts. Riyaz Bhat, a well-known advocate of Afghan carpets in Doha, spoke about the craftsmanship of Afghan women weavers.
According to the statement, the gathering brought together Afghan community members, university staff, ambassadors, and diplomats, offering a space to celebrate Afghan women’s contributions while drawing attention to their increasingly dire situation at home.
