We Demand a Change in the United Nations Policy on Afghanistan and the Removal of Roza Otunbayeva, Head of UNAMA!Report by Ahmad Soheil Parto

We Demand a Change in the United Nations Policy on Afghanistan and the Removal of Roza Otunbayeva, Head of UNAMA!

Report by Ahmad Soheil Parto

With profound concern regarding the continuation of policies aimed at engaging with and whitewashing the Taliban by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), we underscore that such an approach has not only strengthened the position of the Taliban but has directly exacerbated systematic oppression against women—amounting to modern-day slavery—which is unequivocally detrimental to Afghanistan’s future.

The recent call for continued engagement with the Taliban by UNAMA’s head during the United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan is deeply troubling. Over the past three years, instead of adopting a firm stance against the gross and egregious violations of fundamental human rights perpetrated by the Taliban, UNAMA has pursued a conciliatory and accommodating approach. This has normalized relations with the Taliban, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars under the guise of humanitarian aid, ignored ongoing human rights atrocities, and indirectly legitimized the repression in Afghanistan. Despite such engagement, the Taliban have not shown any flexibility in response to the demands of the Afghanistan people and the international community. On the contrary, this has emboldened them to continue their flagrant violations of human rights, particularly against women, with impunity and without fear of accountability.

The Purple Saturdays Movement, whose leadership and majority of members are based within Afghanistan, unequivocally condemns and rejects the proposal for engagement with the Taliban made by UNAMA’s head. We demand the following actions:

Leadership Review of UNAMA:
Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA, has failed over the past three years to uphold the mission’s mandate to protect human rights, especially women’s rights, and to promote social justice in Afghanistan. Therefore, we call for her replacement with a competent individual who demonstrates unwavering commitment to human rights and impartiality and can restore UNAMA’s credibility in Afghanistan.

End of Engagement Policies with the Taliban:
Any form of support or implicit endorsement of the Taliban under the pretext of engagement has not only empowered this terrorist group but also worsened the human rights situation, particularly for women. We demand a meaningful and immediate cessation of efforts to whitewash or justify the Taliban and a thorough reassessment of the UN’s policies towards them.

Concrete Action by the United Nations to Protect Human Rights, Especially Women’s Rights:
We urge all human rights organizations, activists, protest movements, and international media to exert effective and comprehensive pressure on the United Nations to fulfill its true role in defending human rights and women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Reconsideration of UNAMA’s Mandate if Engagement Policies Persist:
Should UNAMA continue its support for the Taliban under the guise of engagement, we—the protesting women inside Afghanistan—will be compelled to formally petition the UN Secretary-General to terminate UNAMA’s mandate and request the closure of its offices in Afghanistan.

Appeal to the International Community, Particularly China and Russia:
We urge the global community, especially the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, to refrain from sacrificing their vital interests and national security for short-term strategies. We emphasize the need for vigilance against the threat posed by terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan and urge them to abandon trust in the Taliban.

We stress that Afghanistan is in urgent need of positive change. The Taliban are a common enemy of us all, and any support for them risks turning Afghanistan into an even greater threat to regional and global peace and security. To escape the current crisis, Afghanistan requires the establishment of a legitimate, democratic, and decentralized government as an alternative to the Taliban’s self-declared regime.