The United States’s Department of State on Wednesday expressed concern for women and girls in Afghanistan in a joint statement with over a dozen other nations, vowing to provide humanitarian aid as the country becomes increasingly controlled by the Taliban.
The 22 co-signing countries called on Afghan leaders and those in power to guarantee the protection of women in light of the turmoil as the Taliban have taken over the capital city of Kabul.
“We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement,” the statement read. “We call on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to guarantee their protection.”
AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASHRAF GHANI FLEES COUNTRY
This week, the Taliban took power in the majority of Afghanistan after a swift and aggressive campaign through the country to Kabul, which fell to Taliban forces on Sunday. World leaders and Afghan citizens have expressed great concern over the de facto government due to the Taliban’s decadeslong history of violence and totalitarian oppression of women.
“I’m sitting here waiting for them to come. There is no one to help me or my family. I’m just sitting with them and my husband. And they will come for people like me and kill me,” Zarifa Ghafari, the female mayor of Maidan Shar, said on Sunday. “I can’t leave my family. And anyway, where would I go?”
“Afghan women and girls, as all Afghan people, deserve to live in safety, security and dignity,” the State Department’s statement read. “Any form of discrimination and abuse should be prevented. We in the international community stand ready to assist them with humanitarian aid and support, to ensure that their voices can be heard.”
“We will monitor closely how any future government ensures rights and freedoms that have become an integral part of the life of women and girls in Afghanistan during the last twenty years,” the message concluded.
The statement was co-signed by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Honduras, Guatemala, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Senegal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.
As Taliban forces moved in on Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday, seeking asylum in the United Arab Emirates.
“Today, I came across a hard choice; I should stand to face the armed Taliban who wanted to enter the palace or leave the dear country that I dedicated my life to protecting and protecting the past twenty years,” Ghani wrote in a later statement.
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Clarity: As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus.
— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 17, 2021
On Tuesday, Amrullah Saleh, the former vice president of Afghanistan, declared himself the “legitimate caretaker president” and announced his plans to gather military leaders in opposition of the Taliban.
