Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, has warned that Afghanistan is facing the world’s most severe women’s rights crisis, with girls being denied their right to education.
She made the remarks on Monday, October 26, during a meeting on women, peace and security at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Gumbonzvanda spoke about the situation of women in conflict-affected areas, the rise in conflict-related sexual violence, women’s roles in peace processes and the need to include them in negotiations.
“Afghanistan, which is now facing the world’s most severe women’s rights crisis, is denying girls the education that could transform their lives,” she said.
The UN official added that more than 37,000 civilians were killed in armed conflicts last year, one-quarter of them women and girls.
Gumbonzvanda called for women to participate in all peace talks as decision-makers and urged that funding be provided to women’s organizations.
Her remarks come as women and girls in Afghanistan have faced widespread restrictions on education, higher education and employment since the Taliban returned to power.
These restrictions have also reduced women’s participation in social and public life.
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