The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced Tuesday that Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, will brief the UN Security Council on the Afghan situation on Wednesday, December 20.
This briefing follows a closed-door meeting held by the Security Council last week to discuss Afghanistan, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed.
The meeting focused on concerns raised by women activists in response to Feridun Sinirlioglu’s assessment report on Afghanistan. Prominent attendees included women’s rights activists Fawzia Koofi, Asila Wardak, and Yalda Royan. They underscored the necessity of protecting women’s rights and ensuring their full participation in Afghanistan’s political processes.
Koofi, a former representative of Badakhshan in Afghanistan’s parliament and a key advocate for women’s rights, emphasized the importance of inclusively engaging all parties in Afghanistan’s political affairs. Wardak, during the session, highlighted critical demands, such as a national dialogue on safeguarding Afghan women, the Taliban’s commitment to releasing prisoners, and initiatives to strengthen the women’s economy.
The prior Security Council meeting reviewed a report by Faridun Sinirlioglu, the UN’s Special Coordinator. Sinirlioglu’s report, prepared at the request of the UN Secretary-General, adopted a forward-looking and strategic perspective and was presented to the Security Council.
UNAMA’s report, published on Monday, details ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture, and targeting of civilians.
