ROME — Italy’s Foreign Ministry has appointed Sabrina Ugolini as the nation’s new ambassador to Afghanistan, underscoring her focus on human rights and the plight of women and girls under Taliban rule.
In a statement released by the ministry, Ms. Ugolini said she would work closely with international efforts centered in Doha, Qatar, as part of her new role. “I assume with responsibility and pride the position of ambassador of Italy to Afghanistan, working in the Doha process,” she said. “Human rights and the conditions of women and girls will be at the core of my mandate, in the tradition of Italy’s humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people.”
Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Italy, along with other Western nations, closed its Kabul embassy and moved its diplomatic operations to Doha. Italy, like many countries, has not recognized the Taliban-led government.
Ms. Ugolini’s pledge comes at a time of unprecedented restrictions on Afghan women and girls, who have been banned from most forms of education and employment since the Taliban assumed control. The new ambassador stressed that supporting the rights of Afghan women would be central to her work, a commitment that aligns with Italy’s longstanding advocacy for human rights in Afghanistan.
In past three years, Afghan women and girls have faced severe limitations on access to education, work, and other basic rights, as the Taliban continues to enforce strict policies affecting nearly every aspect of their lives.
