Prior to an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over policies that restricted women's rights in Afghanistan, 11 countries, including Japan, which holds the presidency, announced that the Islamist forces that hold real power in the area would be held. We called on the Taliban to immediately end their oppressive measures against women.
In Afghanistan, the interim government of the Taliban suspended education for women at universities in December, and ordered NGOs operating in the country to stop female employees from working.
Regarding this, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in private on the 13th, and prior to this, UN ambassadors from 11 countries, including Japan and the United States, jointly held a press conference.
Japan's Ambassador to the United Nations Ishikane, who serves as the chair country, read a statement on behalf of the United Nations, stating, "I express my deep concern over the critical situation of women in Afghanistan," and added, We call on the Taliban to immediately withdraw the ban and ensure the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of society."
"Only when all Afghans, including women, are educated and participate in and contribute to the country's development, can a stable and peaceful Afghanistan be realized?"
According to diplomatic sources, at a closed-door meeting, there was an opinion that a resolution calling on the Taliban to withdraw policies that restrict women's rights should be adopted, and discussions are expected to continue.