NUMBER: IIMUN/2023/[Rohtak 2024]/[UNHRC]/OE/0031

PORTFOLIO/COUNTRY: South Africa

OP-ED
1-) Today, the country of Afghanistan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in
the world. The human rights landscape in Afghanistan has shown continuous
deterioration ever since the recent Taliban takeover (“Human rights in Afghanistan
Amnesty International”). The Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic movement deeply
influenced by Pashtun nationalism, emerged after the Afghan War (1978-92). During
this period of conflict, the Taliban was founded by Mullah Mohammad Omar. After its
formation in the 1990s the Taliban quickly gained support and was in control of
approximately 75% of Afghanistan in 1996. Its repressive regime consisted of strict laws,
the exclusion of women from public life, and destruction of non-Islamic artifacts. The Taliban
was removed from power after the U.S led invasion of Afghanistan with support from the
Northern Alliance, however it survived and regrouped. Its resurgence culminated in the
takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 after withdrawal of U.S troops (“Taliban | Definition,
History, & Facts.”). Their rule is marked by severe humanitarian violations, such as
arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, unfair detentions and infringement of fundamental
rights (“Human rights in Afghanistan Amnesty International”).

2-) Women and girls bear a significant impact of these violations, confronting obstacles
in exercising fundamental rights,including accessing education, work environments and
public life (Hassan). The Taliban replaced the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWa) with
the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which has a notorious reputation of
arbitrary abuses against women (Barr) . Afghanistan remains the only country where
women are barred from secondary and higher education. Women are prohibited from
holding government positions or working with NGOs and a majority of international
organizations (“Human rights in Afghanistan Amnesty International”). Violation of
children’s rights also remains a big concern. They are exposed to ongoing violence due
to constant unrest and conflict, frequent displacement, ailing economy and detrimental
social norms. Due to widespread poverty more than a third of boys are employed in
perilous child labour, including recruitment in armed groups (“Child protection”). The
Taliban has also enforced extensive censorship measures and have detained and
tortured journalists critical of it.The economy of Afghanistan nearly collapsed in late
2021 when World bank and most foreign donors cut off financial assistance
(“Afghanistan | Country Page | World”). The humanitarian crisis has intensified in 2022
fueled by the country’s economic collapse leading to more than 90% of the population
remaining food insecure throughout the year. Acute malnutrition is common and above
emergency thresholds in 25 out of 34 provinces in afghanistan. World Food Program
(WFP) surveys put a spotlight on lack of adequate food in majority (nearly 100%) of
female headed households in 2022 forcing them to take drastic steps like selling
household items, child labour and marriage (Hassan).

3-)The Afghan people need long-term sustainable solutions to end the humanitarian
crisis. The UN should focus on critically important areas such as maternal and child
health, vaccination and nutrition.Programs should be designed to link foreign aid with
opening of co-ed schools and educational institutions.The international community
should engage with the Taliban and coerce it to develop key sectors in keeping with its
commitments, like healthcare, education and finance. Relief in sanctions should be
provided to private businesses and commercial transactions. Such steps will be key in
alleviating the economic crisis. UN agencies and aid providers must engage local
women organizations for their aid projects. They should pressure the Taliban and
ensure that women serve as aid providers, project managers and distributors.
Organizations led by men should strongly advocate women-lead organizations to be at
the forefront of humanitarian projects. Strong legal systems should be built to hold
culprits of human rights abuse responsible. Endeavors should be directed towards
ensuring the Freedom of Speech and Expression for all Afghans. This includes the
setting up of an independent, bias free media and supporting complete press freedom.
Safeguarding the freedom of speech allows people to openly address human rights
violations and hold the authorities responsible. Finally, worldwide organizations such as
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) play a major role in
providing support (“Solutions for Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan”).
Worldwide participation is crucial for raising awareness and tackling this humanitarian
crisis within the region.

Works Cited

“Afghanistan | Country Page | World.” Human Rights Watch,

https://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan. Accessed 18 April 2024.

Barr, Heather. “For Afghan Women, the Frightening Return of 'Vice and Virtue.'” Human

Rights Watch, 29 September 2021,

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/29/afghan-women-frightening-return-vice-and-

virtue. Accessed 19 April 2024.

“Child protection.” UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/child-protection.

Accessed 18 April 2024.

Hassan, Tirana. “World Report 2023: Afghanistan.” Human Rights Watch,

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/afghanistan. Accessed

17 April 2024.

“Human rights in Afghanistan Amnesty International.” Amnesty International,

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-asia/afghanistan/r

eport-afghanistan/. Accessed 18 April 2024.

Maizland, Lindsay. “The Taliban in Afghanistan.” Council on Foreign Relations, 19

January 2023, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan. Accessed

18 April 2024.
“Solutions for Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan.” Georgetown Institute

for Women Peace and Security, 20 January 2022,

https://giwps.georgetown.edu/event/solutions-for-addressing-the-humanitarian-cri

sis-in-afghanistan/. Accessed 18 April 2024

Leonardo. “Taliban | Definition, History, & Facts.” Britannica,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taliban. Accessed 20 April 2024..