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STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN
TRT: 04:19
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 12 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters
12 DECEMBER, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“The de facto authorities have continued to resolutely pursue their vision of an Islamic system and their interpretation of Afghan culture, and one which continues to be characterized by unprecedented restrictions on women and girls.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“In early December, the de facto authorities announced that female students would be barred from attending medical institutes and classes of higher education. If fully implemented, this would have deadly implications for women and girls in particular, but also for men and boys, entire communities and the country as a whole – by denying Afghans a functioning healthcare system that is open to all.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA):
“Pressure and condemnation do not seem to be working, and if pursued without forward-leaning principled engagement it will lead to Afghanistan’s isolation. Isolation is not the solution, and we must continue to engage to build trust for the benefit of the Afghan people.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Half the population needs support, making Afghanistan the second largest humanitarian crisis in the world right now.”
10. Med shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Humanitarian assistance remains essential in Afghanistan. In 2024, the UN and its humanitarian partners provided life-saving support to almost 18 million people across the country, including 5.1 million women and 8.3 million children.”
12. Med shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“The de facto authorities’ attempts to interfere in aid programming continue to undermine operations and delays the delivery of assistance in lengthy negotiations.”
14. Med shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Afghanistan:
“We mourn the hard-won progress of the past two decades—achieved through immense sacrifice—now tragically lost. Millions of women and girls see their dreams shattered, fundamental rights eroded, and our youth face unemployment and a future clouded by despair.”
16. Med shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Afghanistan:
“We call on the Taliban: Enough is enough. The Afghan people have endured decades of unimaginable suffering and conflict. It is time to cease inflicting further pain, abandon oppressive policies, and respond to the legitimate demands of both the Afghan people and the international community.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. Pan left, ambassadors walking to stakeout
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Dorothy Camille Shea, Deputy Representative, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, United States of America:
“The Taliban’s issuance of the so-called Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice edict in August, its reported decision to suspend medical education for women and girls in all educational institutions this month, and more than 80 other discriminatory edicts, aim to silence their voices and to complete the erasure of all women and girls.”
21. Wide shot, ambassadors at stakeout
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Dorothy Camille Shea, Deputy Representative, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, United States of America:
“We reiterate our call on the Taliban to immediately stop and reverse their ongoing systemic abuses of human rights, particularly discriminatory policies and practices that restrict the enjoyment of women and girls’ human rights and fundamental freedoms. Such abuses must end.”
23. Pan right, ambassadors leaving stakeout
UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva said that the de facto authorities have continued to “resolutely pursue their vision of an Islamic system and their interpretation of Afghan culture, and one which continues to be characterized by unprecedented restrictions on women and girls.”
Addressing the security Council today (12 Dec), Otunbayeva said, “In early December, the de facto authorities announced that female students would be barred from attending medical institutes and classes of higher education. If fully implemented, this would have deadly implications for women and girls in particular, but also for men and boys, entire communities and the country as a whole – by denying Afghans a functioning healthcare system that is open to all.”
About the engagement with the de facto authorities, she said, “Pressure and condemnation do not seem to be working, and if pursued without forward-leaning principled engagement it will lead to Afghanistan’s isolation. Isolation is not the solution, and we must continue to engage to build trust for the benefit of the Afghan people.”
Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated that half the population needs support, “making Afghanistan the second largest humanitarian crisis in the world right now.”
He also said, “Humanitarian assistance remains essential in Afghanistan. In 2024, the UN and its humanitarian partners provided life-saving support to almost 18 million people across the country, including 5.1 million women and 8.3 million children.”
He added, “The de facto authorities’ attempts to interfere in aid programming continue to undermine operations and delays the delivery of assistance in lengthy negotiations.”
Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'affaires at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said, “We mourn the hard-won progress of the past two decades—achieved through immense sacrifice—now tragically lost. Millions of women and girls see their dreams shattered, fundamental rights eroded, and our youth face unemployment and a future clouded by despair.”
He then called on the Taliban and said, “Enough is enough. The Afghan people have endured decades of unimaginable suffering and conflict. It is time to cease inflicting further pain, abandon oppressive policies, and respond to the legitimate demands of both the Afghan people and the international community.”
Before the Council, US Deputy Representative Dorothy Camille Shea read a joint statement by the Security Council Signatories of the Statement of Shared Commitments for the Principles of Women, Peace and Security.
She said, “The Taliban’s issuance of the so-called Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice edict in August, its reported decision to suspend medical education for women and girls in all educational institutions this month, and more than 80 other discriminatory edicts, aim to silence their voices and to complete the erasure of all women and girls.”
She also said, “We reiterate our call on the Taliban to immediately stop and reverse their ongoing systemic abuses of human rights, particularly discriminatory policies and practices that restrict the enjoyment of women and girls’ human rights and fundamental freedoms. Such abuses must end.”
