Debate: Situation in Afghanistan, in particular the situation of women’s rights
Date: TUESDAY, 5 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: EN

Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed heartbreaking images of girls full of hope turning up for school. They went to school and they were called to go back home, because they were not allowed to be there. They were not allowed to attend the schools and they had to turn away at the school gates, because the Taliban reversed their promise to the Afghan people of opening secondary schools for all. Denying education to millions of girls goes against the commitment that Afghanistan, as a state, has signed. It is against the commitments that the Taliban themselves have made to the Afghan people and to us, to the international community. Several Muslim countries and organisations have also condemned these actions, pointing out that within an Islamic system, women are an integral part of the workforce, in government and in higher education. The Taliban reversed these decisions and decided to deny education to girls. Not for us, not for the sake of the international community, but for the sake of the future of the people of Afghanistan, for themselves, for their people, we are delivering on our commitment to the people of Afghanistan, and in particular to Afghan women: 75% of the European Union’s EUR 250 million package for health, education and livelihoods now puts special attention on women and girls and their rights. We are supporting, for example, 23 000 small-scale entrepreneurs, many of whom are women. You know, we have systematically engaged with the Taliban for the full inclusion of women in all humanitarian operations.  In 2021, we deployed EUR 222 million just for humanitarian intervention with a strong prioritisation of female-headed households. Over 80% of our health and nutrition beneficiaries are woman and children. We also support trainings for young women to become primary and secondary school teachers. But for what, if in the end they are forbidden from putting their capacities into practice for the good of their people? Afghan women must be given the opportunity to speak out and to represent themselves as equal partners in shaping the new Afghan reality. This is why I facilitated, on 10 March, the establishment of the Afghan Women Leaders Forum, to provide women a forum for voicing their concerns on the international stage. I know that the only way to support the people of Afghanistan is to continue raising this issue with the Taliban, who are the ones who have the power and the administrative capacity in Afghanistan. We make our voice heard by talking with the Taliban de facto government, like it or not. We take note of their commitments and we assess them by their deeds. Walking away or leaving the field to others is not an option. It is by being present also in Kabul and by engaging on the basis of the European Union’s benchmark that we can best defend Europe’s interests and the values we share with the Afghan people, and in particular with the Afghan women, in this dire situation. I think this exchange, this debate, can help bring the attention of the world to this forgotten drama, to this forgotten tragedy; the drama and the tragedy of millions of girls whose future is being jeopardised by this cruel decision of not allowing them to be taught, to learn, to prepare for their future lives. I hope the voice of the European Parliament will be heard on this.