INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) authorities in Afghanistan to &swiftly
reverse& policies and practices that are restricting the human rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls.The 15-member council agreed to
the Norway-drafted statement nearly two weeks after it discussed the situation behind closed-doors
It expressed &deep concern regarding the increasing erosion of respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in
Afghanistan by the Taliban (IEA).Earlier this month the IEA ordered women to cover their faces in public
They also asked television broadcasters to ensure that female presenters on local stations cover their faces when on air.The members of the
Security Council called on the Taliban (IEA) to swiftly reverse the policies and practices which are currently restricting the human rights
and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls,& read the Security Council statement.Under the IEA&s previous rule from 1996 to 2001,
women had to cover up, could not work, and girls were banned from school
But after seizing power in August last year, the IEA said it would respect women&s rights, Reuters reported.However in March, the IEA
backtracked on their announcement that high schools would open for girls, saying they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up in
accordance with Islamic law for them to reopen.The Security Council &reiterated their call on the Taliban (IEA) to adhere to their
commitments to reopen schools for all female students without further delay.The post UN Security Council urges IEA to lift restrictions on
women, girls first appeared on Ariana News.
