Dozens of girls from Afghanistan have written handwritten letters to António Guterres, calling for greater attention from the international community to the situation of women and girls in the country.
The authors of the letters urged the Secretary-General of the United Nations not to remain silent in the face of girls being deprived of education and the restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan, and to make these issues a priority in international discussions and decision-making processes.
Parts of the letters state that since the Taliban returned to power, women and girls have been deprived of education, personal freedoms, social participation, and a number of their fundamental rights.
One girl wrote to Guterres that the doors of schools and universities remain closed to girls and that many of them see their futures and aspirations being destroyed. She added that Afghan women witness the loss of hope and life opportunities every day.
In another letter, the current situation in Afghanistan was described as “very difficult and alarming.” The writer referred to problems such as poverty, unemployment, and extensive social restrictions. She called on the United Nations not to remain indifferent to these circumstances and urged that any normalization of relations with the Taliban be conditioned on tangible improvements in human rights, particularly the rights of women.
Another writer stated that Afghan women have been deprived of the most basic human rights, including the rights to education, work, and participation in society. She called on the international community to listen to the voices of Afghan women and take effective measures to defend their rights.
Several of the letters emphasized that Afghan girls do not want to become victims of global silence and expect their voices to be reflected in meetings and discussions concerning Afghanistan.
Sana, one of the Afghan girls, also wrote to the UN Secretary-General, stating that the situation of Afghan women and girls must be taken into account in international engagements and discussions with the Taliban. She urged Guterres to encourage the international community to apply greater pressure for the protection of women’s rights.
The authors of the letters also stressed that reopening schools and universities to girls should be a priority in international efforts and that the right to education must not be denied to Afghan women and girls.
At the end of their letters, the Afghan girls warned that forgetting the women of Afghanistan would mean silencing the culture, progress, and future of the country. They asked the UN Secretary-General to convey the voices of Afghan women and girls to the world and to take stronger action in defense of their rights to education, freedom, and social participation.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
