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‘Behind each crisis, people are suffering,’ Türk tells Human Rights Council

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‘Behind each crisis, people are suffering,’ Türk tells Human Rights Council

We are on an indefensible path of escalating conflict and open disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law,” said Volker Türk, addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Offering a global overview, he painted a stark picture of a world in crisis – with surging armed conflict, deepening climate disruption, emerging technological threats, and a worrying rise in authoritarianism.

Spiralling conflicts

Conflicts around the world are spiralling, as civilians are deliberately attacked and starvation and rape is used as weapons of war by parties. Yet, “accountability is often absent,” said Mr. Türk, who heads the office of human rights, OHCHR.  

From Ukraine to Myanmar, conflicts are plunging countries deeper into chaos and lawlessness.  

In Sudan, the number of arbitrary killings of civilians as rival militaries battle for control, tripled between February and April, OHCHR reports.  

In Gaza, “Israel has weaponised food and blocked lifesaving aid,” Mr. Türk continued, calling for an “immediate ceasefire leading to a two-State solution, with Gaza as an integral part of a Palestinian State.”  

Describing the military escalation between Israel and Iran as “deeply worrying,”  Mr. Türk appealed “for de-escalation and urgent diplomatic negotiations to end these attacks and find a way forward.”  

“This violence must end,” he said.  

Civil society under attack

Around the world, at least 625 human rights defenders and media workers were killed or disappeared in 2024, OHCHR has reported.  

That is one every 14 hours,” the human rights chief said.  

In many places around the world, civil society and the media are being vilified, harassed and silenced; yet it is civil society and the media who play a vital role holding power to account.  

As investigating and reporting human rights abuses and violations are necessary tools to mitigate conflict and build peace, Mr. Türk said he was “deeply disturbed” by attacks on the international institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICJ).  

“Sanctioning judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels, for doing their jobs, is an assault on the rule of law and corrodes justice,” he said.  

Persecuted minorities

From anti-immigrant rhetoric to hate speech targeting the LGBTIQ+ community, one in five people across 119 countries reported experiencing discrimination in the past year, OHCHR said.  

Discrimination is neither rare nor random, it is widespread,” said Mr. Türk.  

For instance, data gathered by the UN shows that women face discrimination at more than double the level experienced by men.  

Highlighting the war on women and girls in Afghanistan, the de facto authorities continue to enforce a systematic policy of erasing women and girls from public life, he continued.  

In these troubled times, “we need governments and societies to stand up for human rights, in word and deed,” concluded Mr. Türk.  

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Afghan women face near total social, economic and political exclusion

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Afghan women face near total social, economic and political exclusion

But recently, the level of participation has reached a new low – zero.

Zero women in national or local decision-making bodies.

Zero girls projected to be in secondary education following a December 2024 ban.

These numbers are part of the index released Tuesday by gender equality agency UN Women which is the most comprehensive study on gender inequality in Afghanistan since the Taliban resumed de facto control in 2021.

It paints a sobering picture of the state of gender equality in Afghanistan.

“Since [2021], we have witnessed a deliberate and unprecedented assault on the rights, dignity and very existence of Afghan women and girls. And yet, despite near-total restrictions on their lives, Afghan women persevere,” said Sofia Calltorp, UN Women chief of humanitarian action, at a briefing in Geneva.

Second-widest gender gap in the world

The report released by UN Women noted that while the Taliban regime has presided over “unparalleled” gender inequality, disparities existed long before 2021.

“The issue of gender inequality in Afghanistan didn’t start with the Taliban. Their institutionalised discrimination is layered on top of deep-rooted barriers that also hold women back,” Ms. Calltorp said. 

According to the index, Afghanistan currently has the second-worst gender gap in the world, with a 76 per cent disparity between women’s and men’s achievements in health, education, financial inclusion and decision-making.

Afghan women are currently realizing only 17 per cent of their potential, and recent policies by the de facto government — including the December 2024 ban on women in secondary education and the increasingly stringent restrictions on women’s movement — will perpetuate and perhaps worsen this under-realized potential.

Systematic exclusion and social effects

This sort of systematic exclusion of women from society at all levels not only impedes progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and gender equality but also exacerbates poverty and instability more broadly, making it harder for the economy to diversify labour sources.

“Afghanistan’s greatest resource is its women and girls. Their potential continues to be untapped,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

Right now, only 24 per cent of women are part of the labour force, compared to 89 per cent of men. Continued protracted economic strife has led to the number of women in the workforce increasing.

“Overlapping economic, political, and humanitarian crises — all with women’s rights at their core — have pushed many households to the brink. In response – often out of sheer necessity — more women are entering the workforce,” Ms. Calltorp said.

Nevertheless, women are still predominantly working in lower-paid and less secure positions and are overwhelmingly responsible for all unpaid domestic work.

Ms. Calltorp noted that despite the “devastating” daily constraints that Afghan women face, they continue to advocate for themselves and their rights.

“[Afghan women] continue to find ways to run businesses and advocate for their rights – and the rights of all Afghans…Their courage and resilience spans generations,” Ms. Calltorp said.

Stark choices

Alongside a deteriorating gender equality landscape, the aid outlook in Afghanistan is increasingly bleak with only 18 per cent of the 2025 humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan funded.

This is having tangible impacts on the ground, leading UN agencies and partners to call for action and funds.

“Time and time again in Afghanistan, we have seen how donor support can be the difference between life and death…We make an urgent appeal to donors to increase flexible, timely and predictable funding,” they said.

Women, girls and other vulnerable groups are particularly impacted by these funding shortages — 300 nutrition sites for malnourished mothers and children have shut and 216 gender-based violence points have suspended work impacting over one million women and girls.

“The choices we make now will reveal what we stand for as a global community. If the world tolerates the erasure of Afghan women and girls, it sends a message that the rights of women and girls everywhere are fragile and expendable,” Ms. Calltorp said.

“Afghan women and girls haven’t given up, and we will not give up on them.”

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Dr Congo: human rights violations could constitute war crimes, say the UN experts

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Volker Türk said to Human Rights Council that the investigation and the analysis undertaken by his office, Ohchrhad revealed “an apparent total contempt for the protection of civilians during and after military operations”.

The Ochch’s mission of investigation in the DRC Orientale is also investigating other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, “many of which can constitute war crimes,” he said.

Arbitrary arrests

After capturing cities and villages at the beginning of 2025, the rebels supported by the M23 arbitrarily arrested the police and a large number of other civilians, including children, reported the United Nations Human Rights Office.

According to witnesses, the captured people were and are still held under “inhuman conditions”, and many have been recruited by force in the ranks of the M23.

The mission is also investigating alleged arbitrary arrests and the forced disappearance of alleged supporters of M23 by the military intelligence branch of the DRC armed forces.

Extrajudicial killings

The OHCHR also indicated that members of the M23 had made a summary and extrajudicial executions, which probably constitute war crimes, said Türk.

The mission is also investigating summary executions presumed by members of the DRC armed forces and Wazalendo militias supported by the DRC.

UN human rights are also investigating death threat reports, detention and other reprisals against human rights defenders, journalists and civil society members perceived as criticism of the M23; Including the alleged murders of at least two activists.

Sexual violence

The mission has received reports on the “horrible” use of sexual violence by all parties as a means of reprisals against communities, parents of perceived adversaries and people from other ethnic groups, said Türk.

In northern and southern Kivu, almost 40% of survivors of sexual and gender violence are children. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) estimated that during the most intense phase of the conflict, a child was raped every 30 minutes.

Türk called on “all the parties to the conflict immediately committed to a ceasefire and to resume negotiations, and to respect the international law of humanitarian rights and human rights”.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Guterres to launch a rescue campaign for strengthening the action of mines worldwide

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António Guterres announced the move a declaration published on Monday, in response to plans of several UN member states to withdraw from The anti-prison convention of anti-personal mines.

The 1997 Treaty, also known as Ottawa Convention, prohibits the use, storage, production and transfer of these weapons.

Mondial accepted money

Since then, it has led to a Virtual judgment in the global production of anti-personal miners and a drastic reduction in their deployment“And” more than 40 million stored mines have been destroyed “,” according to The United Nations Bureau for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

To date, 165 states have gone to the treaty and 133 have signed it.

Five European countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – recently announced that they intended to leave or take measures in this direction, which would have security problems linked to Russia.

Weaken protection, undermine progress

Without the countries of naming, the secretary general expressed serious concerns concerning development.

“At a time when civilians are faced with increased risks of the expansion of conflicts, It is imperative that we strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity“He said.

“These announcements are particularly disturbing because it may weaken civil protection and undermine two decades from a normative framework that has saved countless lives.”

He urged all states “to join the treaties of humanitarian disarmament and immediately stop the stages towards their withdrawal”, and called on the 32 states which have not yet joined the Treaty to do so without delay.

These countries include China, Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States.

ICBL / GWENN DUBOURTHOUMIEU

A 33 -year -old survivor is trying a new prosthesis at the Kabalay, Chad. (deposit)

About the campaign

The secretary general’s campaign will focus on maintaining the standards of humanitarian disarmament, accelerating the action of mines as a catalyst for human rights and sustainable development, and advancing the vision of a mine -free world.

“To achieve these objectives, over the next six months, this campaign will aim to reinforce public support to disarmament and will also facilitate concrete actions of states to comply with humanitarian standards and strengthen the action of mines,” he said.

He concluded by stressing that “The urgency of this question cannot be overestimated“, Saying” the protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action and commitment “.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

‘Hate speech is poison in the well of society,’ says Guterres

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‘Hate speech is poison in the well of society,’ says Guterres

It is an alarm bell: the louder it rings, the greater the threat of genocide,” he warned.

As part of its core mission to combat hatred, discrimination, racism and inequality, the UN is stepping up efforts to challenge hate speech wherever it arises.

“Hate speech is poison in the well of society. It has paved the way for violence and atrocities during the darkest chapters of human history,” Mr. Guterres added.

Voices of hate

Hate speech often fuels violence and intolerance, with ethnic and religious minorities among the most frequent targets.

While the destructive power of hatred is nothing new, today it is being amplified by modern communication technologies.

Online hate speech has become one of the most prevalent means of spreading divisive narratives, posing a growing threat to peace and security around the world.

#NoToHate

Ahead of the international day, the UN has produced a series of videos aimed at countering hate speech – part of the #NoToHate campaign.

Ahmed Shaheed, Deputy Director of the Essex Human Rights Centre, speaks here about countering Islamophobia:

Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, addresses rising antisemitism:

Artificial Intelligence

This year’s theme sheds light on the nexus between hate speech and artificial intelligence. Building coalitions is the main tool societies can use to reclaim inclusive and safe spaces free of hatred.

While AI tools offer myriad potential opportunities to make positive differences in situations of conflict and insecurity, biased algorithms and digital platforms are also spreading toxic content and creating new spaces for harassment and abuse.

Recognising these immense potential and risks, Member States have recommitted to countering hate speech online.

“Let us commit to using artificial intelligence, not as a tool of hatred, but as a force for good,” said Mr. Guterres.

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Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories constitute war crimes, the Human Rights Council hears

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“The aim of the Israeli government is obviously: the destruction of life in Gaza.”

This is how Navi Pillay, president of Commission of inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territoryopened his statement to the 59th council session on Tuesday.

Calling for war in Gaza “the most ruthless, prolonged and widespread attack on the Palestinian people since 1948,” said Pillay of the Commission’s conclusions reportreleased at HRC on May 6.

Attacks against educational facilities in Gaza

He found that 90% of Gaza schools and universities have been damaged or destroyed By Israeli attacks – including air strikes, bombings, burns and controlled demolitions.

“With the loss of education, the Palestinians also lose their source of stability, hope and possibility of a future,” said Ms. Pillay.

By not emitting adequate warnings to civilians who are reflected inside, these attacks have caused many victims, equivalent to war crimes, in particular the knowing launch of attacks which caused excessive and disproportionate civil damage and crime against humanity of extermination.

The Commission found no military necessity to justify the destruction of schools, concluding that the intention was to restrict Palestinian access to the education.

In particular, while Israeli forces have often claimed that they were targeting Hamas agents were based in schools, the Commission has checked only one case of Hamas using a school for military purposes, compared to the systematic use of Israeli schools as military bases.

Education restrictions in the West Bank

Ms. Pillay also warned that education in the West Bank has remained threatened. Demolition orders, military raids, restrictions and operations have considerably reduced school days, while the violence of the colonists has endangered students and teachers. The Israeli government has encouraged or has not prevented such violence, she said.

Attacks against religious and cultural sites

In Gaza, Israeli forces have damaged 53% of religious and cultural sites.

Many were used for refuge or worship, causing new civil losses, constituting war crimes and, in some cases, crime against extermination humanity.

These completely avoidable damage “have a cascade effect and deeply affect intangible cultural elements, such as religious and cultural practices, memories and history, undergoing the identity of the Palestinians as a people,” said Ms. Pillay.

Since the Israeli forces should have known where these sites were and plan their assaults accordingly, the Commission noted that these acts constituted war crimes, in particular by intentionally targeting historical and religious sites and generalized destruction without military necessity.

Seizure of cultural heritage sites in the West Bank

In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Commission has documented repeated cases of Israeli authorities or settlers grabbing the cultural heritage sites, moving the Palestinians, excluding non-Jewish history and restoring Palestinian access.

The report highlights increasing restrictions and attacks against the Palestinians from Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount, a long-standing flash point in East Jerusalem.

Ms. Pillay argued that thanks to these actions, “Israel has used cultural heritage and colonies as a lever effect for its illegal territorial allegations in occupied West Bank, at the flagrant challenge of multiple United Nations and West Bank resolutions 2024 Advisory Notice of the International Court of Justice (Icj). “”

These actions violate international law, including the right to cultural life, freedom of religion and the protection of cultural heritage.

Recommendations

Ms. Pillay concluded her speech by stressing that the attacks of Israel against education, infrastructure and heritage sites aim to “erode the historical links of Palestinians with the earth and weaken their collective identity, which thus hinders their right to self -determination” and the possibility of a peaceful and lasting solution to two states.

Consequently, the Commission calls on Israel to end the illegal occupation and to allow Palestinian self -determination; Stop attacks and convulsions of educational, religious and cultural sites; end the systematic erasure of Palestinian history; And fully comply with international law, including the Decision of the ICJ 2024.

The Sudan war is intensifying in the middle of the famine, the defense of rights warn

Meanwhile, in Sudan, heavy fighting continues to degenerate as “direct result” of the continuous weapon flow in the country, which means that the war is far from over, the best independent investigators said on Tuesday Human Rights Council.

In an emergency update in the North-East African Nation, the Independent international mission for Sudan highlighted the increased use of heavy weapons in populated areas – and a strong increase in sexual violence.

“Many Sudanese die from hunger and especially those who have been detained and in detention – they are dying and millions affected”Said Joy Ngozi EzeiloExpert member of the mission of teaching the facts.

“In terms of international responsibility, we urge all the States to respect and apply the embargo on the weapons of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1556“, She added.

Humanitarian aid continues to be armed and hospitals and medical facilities remain besieged, warned the investigators, whose mandate was created by the Council in October 2023.

Two young women carry water on a site for displaced people from Eastern Sudan.

Direct link

“” There is a direct link between the flow of arms in Sudan, armed hostilities and the resulting violence Evaluating violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations, “said Mohamed Chande Othman, president of the mission of inquiry.

“” We know the type of weapons used: heavy artillery, modern war, drones and in fact, they have increased. “”

The naughty Mona Rishmawi insisted that the testimonies gathered stressed that “the two parties” continuing to commit war crimes – a reference to the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the rapid support forces (RSF) which turned against each other in April 2023, following a break in transition to the civil regime.

Around El Fasher, for example, Civilians were “attacked, detained and killed while the villages have been attacked, burned and looted” by the RSF. During an RSF attack from April 10 to 13, more than 100 civilians were killed, while SAF bombardment in Al Koma killed at least 15 civilians.

Now in its third year, the war has so far killed tens of thousands of civilians, moving more than 13 million Sudanese and subjecting much more to sexual violence, looting and destruction of houses, health establishments, markets and other infrastructure.

Crimes against humanity continue, “in particular in the context of the persecution of certain ethnic groups,” insisted Ms. Rishmawi.

The result of restrictions to help relief was to stimulate famine, “in particular Darfur,” said investigators, who are respected human rights experts and not UN staff.

In their latest update of the Human Rights Council, investigators have documented a strong increase in sexual and sexual violence, with women and girls subject to rape, gang rape, kidnapping, sex slavery and forced marriage, mainly in travel camps controlled by the RSF.

About UN experts

The members of the commission of inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territory and the mission of teaching the facts for Sudan receive their mandates from the United Nations Human Rights Council.

They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

‘Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability,’ Security Council hears

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‘Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability,’ Security Council hears

“Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability,” UN Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi said on Tuesday in a briefing to the Security Council in New York. 

The risks of further escalation in the region are not hypothetical – they are immediate, severe, and risk unraveling the fragile progress toward peace and recovery in Syria.” 

She echoed the Secretary-General’s condemnation of military escalation in Middle East and his call on Israel and Iran to show maximum restraint. 

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has also expressed growing alarm over the potential consequences of any further escalation, which she also conveyed. 

‘Constructive and cooperative’ engagement 

Ms. Rochdi reported on the Special Envoy’s ongoing engagement in recent months, such as meetings with senior officials in Damascus, including interim foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. 

Their discussions focused on recent positive developments in international relations as well as the importance of prioritizing domestic affairs towards a genuinely inclusive political transition in which all Syrians have a stake. 

Overall, the meetings with Syrian officials “were marked by a constructive and cooperative tone, with a shared interest in strengthening engagement with the United Nations across multiple sectors,” she said.  

Road to transition 

“Particular attention was given to the next steps in the transition and to coordinating efforts with the newly established committees on transitional justice and missing persons,” she added. 

Among the important next steps is the establishment of a new People’s Assembly as the transitional legislative authority.  In this regard, she welcomed the recent presidential decree announcing the appointment of a supreme committee for elections to the Assembly. 

Developments in the northeast 

Turning to the northeast, Ms. Rochdi referred to the 10 March deal reached between the interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls the region, to integrate the Kurdish-led group into the national army. 

The agreement “continues to present a historical opportunity to solve one of the key outstanding issues in this conflict and restore Syria’s sovereignty and unity, a priority which the Special Envoy discussed with interim Foreign Minister Shaibani.”

She also welcomed recent detainee exchanges as well as cooperation that enabled several Syrian families at the Al-Hol camp to return to the northwest. Thousands of people from several countries have been held for years at the notorious complex for their alleged ties to ISIL extremists.

“We stress the importance of negotiations moving forward in earnest with bold steps and an active spirit of compromise from both sides to implement the 10 March agreement,” Ms. Rochdi told ambassadors.

“This is a priority for stability in Syria and the region, for the restoration of Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, and for the success of the overall political transition.”  

Attacks against specific communities

She noted that sporadic violent incidents continued in Homs, Hama and other regions, including killings, kidnappings and infringements on individual liberties. 

Furthermore, some of the people that the Special Envoy met in Damascus voiced concern over ongoing attacks targeting specific communities and groups, including Alawites, Druze, and women. 

 “While many interlocutors emphasized that these incidents did not appear to be systematic or part of official policy, they highlighted the persistent challenges faced by the interim authorities in controlling certain groups – whether affiliated with the interim authorities or operating independently,” she said.

Ms. Rochdi also pointed to encouraging signs the interim authorities have taken to ease tensions such as the recent issuance of a fatwa that prohibits revenge killings and extrajudicial retaliation. 

Respect Syria’s sovereignty

Meanwhile, other security challenges persist, with sporadic and limited acts of violence this month, including at a border post with Iraq and on contact lines in Deir-ez-Zor, and in rural Homs. 

“The southwest saw a serious incident of Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes on military sites and weapons depots across southern Syria, in response to a rare incident of small rocket fires out of Syria into the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan,” she continued, noting that two groups unaffiliated with the interim authorities claimed responsibility. 

Additionally, Israeli incursions, arrests, and drone strikes occurred last week in Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, which she said are unacceptable and must cease. 

Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected, along with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Diplomacy is possible and must be prioritised,” she said. 

Ms. Rochdi further reported that “ongoing activity by ISIL remains notable, including attacks on SDF positions, and a US drone strike on an ISIL figure in northwest Syria.”

Returnees and economic measures

Before concluding, Ms. Rochdi reported that despite the fragile security and socioeconomic situation in their homeland, nearly 600,000 people are estimated to have returned to Syria in the past six months, mostly from neighbouring countries.

An estimated 1.34 million displaced people inside Syria have also gone back to their areas of origin during the same period.  

She said the UN continues to welcome and encourage international actions which contribute to the reactivation of Syria’s economy. They include a six-month waiver of some US sanctions, the European Union’s (EU) lifting of economic sanctions, and a broad range of transactions authorized by the United Kingdom to facilitate commercial activity in some key sectors.

Dire humanitarian situation 

Meanwhile, three-quarters of Syria’s population still requires humanitarian aid, which includes returnees and displaced people, UN deputy relief chief Joyce Msuya told the Council. 

Unexploded ordnance continues to pose a significant threat with at least 414 people killed since December, and nearly 600 injured.   

“A third of these victims are children,” she said.  “This threat is also a key concern for displaced people who want to return to their homes.”  

Worsening cholera outbreak 

Syria’s health systems remain overwhelmed.  Fewer than 60 per cent of hospitals and less than half of primary healthcare centres are fully functional. 

She also warned that a cholera outbreak risks getting worse due to population displacement, disruptions to water systems and drought. 

Syria, along with much of the region, is experiencing its worst dry spell in more than three decades which is likely to shrink agricultural output, she said.  Up to three quarters of the wheat crop – enough to feed 16 million people for a year – is at risk of failure at a time when more than half the population is already going hungry. 

UN support continues 

Ms. Msuya said the UN and partners continue to do what they can to provide critical assistance and make the most of the limited resources available to them.  

“We are now in the final stages of transitioning to a more effective and unified humanitarian coordination model, one that harnesses the efforts of organizations operating across the country under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Damascus,” she said. 

Humanitarians have reached nearly 2.5 million people with vital aid each month and she underscored the need for more funding to continue operations. 

“Nearly halfway through the year, our humanitarian appeal has received only $260 million – just 13 per cent of the requirements for this period,” she said. 

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Afghan women face total social, economic and political exclusion

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But recently, the level of participation has reached a new low – zero.

Zero women in national or local decision -making organizations.

Zero Girls should be in secondary education after a ban by December 2024.

These figures are part of the index published Tuesday by Gender Equality Agency United Nations This is the most complete study on gender inequalities in Afghanistan since the Taliban resumed de facto control in 2021.

He paints an image that gives reflection on the state of gender equality in Afghanistan.

” From [2021]We attended a deliberate and unprecedented assault against the rights, the dignity and the very existence of Afghan women and girls. And yet, despite almost total restrictions on their lives, Afghan women persevered, “said Sofia Calltorp, head of women of humanitarian action, in a briefing in Geneva.

The widest genre gap in the world

The report published by the UN women noted that although the Taliban regime presided over “unrivaled” gender inequalities, the disparities existed well before 2021.

“The question of gender inequality in Afghanistan did not start with the Taliban. Their institutionalized discrimination is superimposed above the deep barriers which also prevent women“Said Ms. Calltorp.

According to the index, Afghanistan currently has the second worst gap between the sexes worldwide, with a disparity of 76% between the achievements of women and men in matters of health, education, financial inclusion and decision -making.

Afghan women are currently Achieve only 17% of their potentialAnd recent de facto government policies-including the December 2024 ban on women in secondary education and increasingly strict restrictions on the women’s movement-will perpetuate and perhaps worsen this under-elected potential.

Systematic exclusion and social effects

This type of systematic exclusion of women from society at all levels not only hinders progress on the Sustainable development objectives (ODD) and gender equality but also worsely aggravates poverty and instability, which makes it more difficult for the economy to diversify the sources of workforce.

“Afghanistan’s biggest resource is his wives and daughters. Their potential continues to be unexploited“Said the Executive Director of UN Women SIMA BAHHE.

Currently, only 24% of women are part of the active population, compared to 89% of men. The continuation of prolonged economic conflicts led the number of women on the labor market.

“The economic, political and humanitarian crises that overlap – all with women’s rights – have pushed many households on the edge. In response – often by necessity – more women enter the labor market, ”said Calltorp.

However, women still work mainly in less well paid and less safe positions and are extremely responsible for all unpaid domestic work.

Ms. Calltorp noted that despite the daily “devastating” constraints with which Afghan women face, they continue to defend themselves and their rights.

“” [Afghan women] Continue to find ways to manage companies and defend their rights – and the rights of all Afghans … Their courage and their resilience extends over generations, “said Calltorp.

Choice struck

In addition to a deterioration of the sex equality landscape, the prospects for help in Afghanistan are more and more dark with only 18% of the humanitarian response plan of 2025 for funded Afghanistan.

This has tangible field impacts, leading the United Nations agencies and partners to call for action and funds.

“Most times in Afghanistan, we have seen how donors’ support can make the difference between life and death … We make an urgent appeal to donors to increase flexible, opportune and predictable funding,” they said.

Women, girls and other vulnerable groups are particularly affected by these financing shortages – 300 nutritional sites for Mothers and Mal -fed children closed and 216 gender -based points of violence have suspended the work impacting more than a million women and girls.

“The choices we make now reveal what we represent as a global community. If the world tolerates the erasure of Afghan women and girls, it sends a message that the rights of women and girls everywhere are fragile and consumable“Said Ms. Calltorp.

“Afghan women and girls have not abandoned, and we will not abandon them.”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Brutal cuts mean that brutal choices warn the UN chief of rescue, launching “the call of survival”

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“We were forced to take a sorting of human survival,” said Fletcher. “Mathematics are cruel and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as possible with the resources given to us. “”

New priorities

The call aims to redefine the plans of individual countries in search of two main objectives: first, to achieve people and places faced with the most urgent humanitarian needs, and secondly, to prioritize vital support based on existing planning for the humanitarian response in 2025.

This is intended to ensure that limited resources are directed where they can do the most good as quickly as possible.

Rather than limiting rescue aid to a predetermined matrix, humanitarian partners focus on the most urgent needs so as to respect the dignity of affected people, allowing them to choose what they need most, Ochha said.

The call gives priority but does not replace the Global humanitarian overview 2025 (GHO), launched last December, which covers 180 million vulnerable people in 70 countries. The GHO provides $ 44 billion, but halfway through the year, less than 13% of this amount has been received.

A call for global solidarity

“The brutal financing cuts leave us brutal choices,” said Fletcher. “Everything we ask is one percent of what you have chosen to spend last year on war. But it is not only a call for money – it is a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end suffering. »»

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Commission proposes gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports

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Commission proposes gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports

To end the EU’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels, the Commission has today provided a concrete timeline for phasing out corresponding gas and oil imports into the EU by end of 2027. The import ban will be gradually implemented to avoid adverse economic impacts or risks to security of supply.

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