France urges global priority on Afghan women’s rights
France has called for the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan to remain a priority for the international community five years after the Taliban returned to power, underscoring continuing concern over sweeping restrictions on women’s rights in the country.
Isabelle Rome, France’s special envoy for human rights, said on Monday at a meeting on the situation of Afghan women on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that France condemns the Taliban authorities’ systematic violations of women’s and girls’ rights. She stressed: “We will not compromise in any way on the rights of Afghan girls and women.”
Rome described the Taliban’s morality law as another example of a “systematic attack on the rights of women and girls.” She said France would work to ensure that women’s rights are specifically reflected in UN resolutions on Afghanistan.
According to the French special envoy, France, together with five other countries, has referred the situation of Afghan women and girls to the International Criminal Court. She also said France has supported the creation of an investigative mechanism for Afghanistan at the Human Rights Council and continues to back its work.
Rome said the purpose of this mechanism is to “seek truth and justice and combat impunity.” She called on the international community to expose violations of Afghan women’s rights and hold those responsible to account.
France’s special envoy for human rights also warned that amid global crises, the situation of Afghan women should not be pushed to the margins. “Amid the flood of shocking news we face every day, we must not forget the difficult situation of Afghan women,” she said.
She concluded: “Women’s rights should never be a secondary or conditional issue. Women’s rights are an integral part of a fair, stable and sustainable international order.”
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where representatives of countries gather each year to discuss major international issues, including human rights crises. Afghanistan has repeatedly been raised at international meetings over the past three years because of Taliban restrictions on women’s education, work and social participation.
