Dear colleagues, dear guests,
first of all, I want to thank all the co – sponsors and the speakers of this event.
It is an honor to address you today as Italy reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protect and support Afghan women’s and girls’ human rights.
The right of every individual to participate fully in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their nation is indisputable — this includes women and girls, whose rights are currently under severe threat in Afghanistan.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325 of the Security Council, which established the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
However, despite the undeniable principles recalled in these documents – such as that education is a cornerstone for gender equality and that sustainable peace is impossible without the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of society – we are witnessing a concerning erosion of Afghan women’s and girls’ human rights.
Since the Taliban’s military takeover in August 2021, the de facto Authorities have enacted a series of decrees, directives, and practices aimed at systematically marginalizing women from public life and decision-making.
Afghan Women, in fact, have faced significant restrictions on their ability to work outside home and the job market for women has experienced a sharp decline, marked by widespread job losses and wage reductions.
Moreover, Afghan girls are denied access to secondary and higher education.
These actions are not just a violation of their rights. They are also a grave threat to Afghanistan’s security, a huge impediment to its development and prosperity, and they settle a dangerous precedent for gender equality worldwide.
Therefore, the international community must reaffirm its commitment to both the Beijing Declaration and the WPS agenda by ensuring their support for Afghan women and girls to reclaim their fundamental rights.
On that point, the full respect for human rights in Afghanistan remains a priority for Italy – as recently recalled in occasion of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Moreover, Italy also signed the joint statement delivered at the 79th United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, reiterating its grave concern regarding the ongoing systemic and institutionalized discrimination against Afghan women and girls.
We remain committed to the UN-led Doha process. In line with the Independent Assessment of the UN Special Coordinator on Afghanistan, we believe that progress in the dialogue with the Taliban must be matched by concrete progress by the de facto Authorities in respecting human rights, particularly in terms of safeguarding the rights of women.
Italy will continue to contribute to sustain the vital role of women’s participation in fostering stability, peace, and security in Afghanistan. We also reaffirm, with unwavering determination, our commitment in defending Afghan women’s and girls’ human rights. In the end we will continue to advocate for diplomatic and humanitarian actions that uphold their rights.
Thank you.
