New york: UN official Georgette Gagnon emphasized the critical need for urgent international support for Afghanistan, highlighting the nation's ongoing struggles with numerous crises despite the enduring resilience of its people.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this call for action was made during a briefing by Georgette Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, at a United Nations Security Council session dedicated to discussing the current situation in the country. Gagnon pointed out the daily challenges faced by Afghans, both men and women, under the de facto authorities' regulations, specifically the "propagation of virtue and prevention of vice" law.
Gagnon highlighted the systematic exclusion of women and girls from nearly all public life aspects, noting that the prohibition on secondary and higher education for girls has now persisted for four years. Furthermore, she expressed concerns over the increasing restrictions on media freedom, citing instances of journalists facing intimidation, detention, and censorship, which significantly diminish the scope for public discourse and participation.
Despite these challenges, Gagnon noted the potential to leverage the current relative stability to move towards an Afghanistan that is at peace, reintegrated into the global community, and where the human rights of all Afghans are upheld.