Canada has reiterated its firm support for the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls, during a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of Afghanistan held at the United Nations.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Canada’s Permanent Mission to the UN said it convened the meeting with the participation of Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. “We continue to call for sustained attention on Afghanistan and stand firm in our support for the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls,” the mission said.
The meeting took place as the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Afghanistan deepens under Taliban rule, with women and girls facing unprecedented restrictions on education, employment, and public life.
Speaking at a separate event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly titled “The Taliban’s Misuse of Religion and Its Consequences for Afghanistan and Beyond,” Bennett warned that the Taliban’s extreme interpretation of religion poses a long-term threat to Afghan society, especially future generations.
Bennett, who has repeatedly warned of the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, has urged the international community to move beyond statements and take concrete action to support Afghan women and girls.
The Canadian mission’s renewed pledge comes amid growing concern that international focus on Afghanistan is fading, even as millions of Afghans—particularly women—continue to face restrictions and a collapsing economy.
