The United Arab Emirates has underscored the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan ahead of the upcoming renewal of the mandate for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA.
In a statement, the UAE Mission to the United Nations said Ambassador Ghasaq Shahine, the country’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, met with Georgette Gagnon, the UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA.
The meeting focused on recent developments in Afghanistan and the role of UNAMA in supporting peace, stability and development in the country, according to the statement.
The UAE mission said both sides discussed the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls, and promoting their full and meaningful participation in society through access to education, employment and public life.
The meeting comes as the UN Security Council prepares to renew UNAMA’s mandate, which expires later this month.
UNAMA is the UN’political mission in Afghanistan and is tasked with supporting humanitarian coordination, political engagement, human rights monitoring and development efforts.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limits on employment and restrictions on participation in public life.
The international community has repeatedly called on the Taliban to reverse those policies and uphold the rights of women and girls as part of broader engagement with Afghanistan.
The UAE has maintained diplomatic engagement with the Taliban while also supporting humanitarian and development initiatives in Afghanistan.
