C 434/88
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
15.11.2022
Thursday 7 April 2022
M. whereas according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 35 % of women and girls have reported feeling unsafe due to gender-based violence when seeking refuge in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan; whereas only 70 % of girls are enrolled in schools there, compared to 92 % of boys;
N. whereas the EU has stepped up its support to the population by launching projects worth over EUR 268,3 million that focus on maintaining education, sustaining livelihoods and protecting public health; whereas these projects are part of the overall EUR 1 billion EU support package announced by the Commission in October 2021, which includes aid for refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons and support for human rights defenders and civil society organisations;
O. whereas according to Reporters Without Borders, 231 media outlets have been closed in Afghanistan, which amounts to 40 % of the total outlets in the country; whereas 80 % of the 6 400 journalists who have lost their jobs are women; whereas restrictions have been imposed banning local and international media, such as the BBC, and journalists have been arrested, detained and beaten;
P. whereas sanctions against Taliban-related entities and individuals should not prevent financial transactions related to humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services by non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
Q. whereas until 15 August 2021, under the former Republic of Afghanistan, women thrived in high-level positions such as Members of Parliament, Ministers, judges, governors, lawyers and ambassadors; whereas the Taliban forces have forcibly removed legitimate former government officials and have not included women in their new unrecognised de facto government; whereas these de facto authorities lack inclusive representation of Afghanistan’s diverse society;
R. whereas intelligence agencies have warned that Afghanistan must not become a safe haven for terrorist organisations;
1.
Is deeply concerned about the humanitarian and human rights crisis that has been unfolding in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover; reiterates its unwavering solidarity with and commitment towards the people of Afghanistan; stresses that the basic rights and freedoms the Afghan people have enjoyed over the past 20 years should be upheld;
2.
Deplores the fact that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan has been steadily deteriorating since the Taliban takeover; condemns the Taliban’s persistent focus on erasing women and girls from public life and denying their most fundamental rights, including the right to education, work, movement and healthcare;
3.
Condemns, in the strongest terms, the Taliban’s decision to postpone the return of girls above grade six to school indefinitely, despite their previous commitment to allow every citizen to access education; urges the Taliban to reverse their decisions and restrictions that specifically target women and girls and to reopen the Ministry of Women’s Affairs;
4.
Stresses that access to education for women and girls must, on the part of the EU and its Member States, constitute an essential condition for any further commitment with the de facto Afghan authorities;
5.
Calls on the Taliban to uphold their commitment to ensuring the right to education for all Afghan citizens, including women and girls;
6.
Deplores the Taliban’s repression of peaceful women’s rights protests in Afghanistan; calls for the immediate release of female police officer Alia Azizi, who was arrested in Herat in October 2021, as well as the release of any other women’s rights activists that may be detained, and for the intimidation and harassment of these activists to be stopped; calls for an end to harassment, threats and attacks against teachers and students;