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U.N. chief urges Taliban restraint, is concerned about women, girls

16 August 2021 08:43 (UTC +04:00)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged the Taliban and all other parties to exercise the utmost restraint in order to protect lives and expressed particular concern about the future of women and girls in Afghanistan, APA reports quoting Reuters.

Taliban insurgents entered Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday, bringing the Islamist militants close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a U.S.-led invasion. read more

"There continue to be reports of serious human rights abuses and violations in the communities most affected by the fighting," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, adding that Guterres "is particularly concerned about the future of women and girls, whose hard-won rights must be protected."

"All abuses must stop. He calls on the Taliban and all other parties to ensure ... the rights and freedoms of all people are respected and protected," Dujarric said.

Under Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001, women could not work, girls were not allowed to attend school and women had to cover their faces and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to venture out of their homes.

Guterres will brief the U.N. Security Council on Monday on Afghanistan. In an Aug. 3 statement, agreed by consensus, the 15 council members "declared that they do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate" (Taliban rule).

Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, Ghulam Isaczai, appointed last month, told Reuters on Sunday: "The message I sent to the council today is to do everything to prevent further violence and ensure an orderly transition to a transitional government."

Guterres warned on Friday that Afghanistan was "spinning out of control" and called on the Taliban to halt their offensive.