Violence against women in peace and security processes was discussed in the United Nations Security Council. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the members of the council to use their influence to end the violations of women’s rights in the world, especially in Afghanistan.
Addressing the council members via video conference, Bachelet stated that women take less part in the negotiations for peace processes and in the mediator role compared to men and said, “Women should take a greater role in peace and security processes. Women’s participation promotes peace around the world. Peace decisions that do not reflect women’s voices, realities and rights are not sustainable.
Bachelet said that in key peace processes around the world between 1992 and 2019, only 13 percent of negotiators, 6 percent of mediators and 6 percent of signatories in these processes were women.
Bachelet noted that only one percent of the aid funds transferred to the countries where the conflicts took place went to women’s rights organizations. Bachelet stated that abuses against women continue in every part of the world and said, “Women are being arrested. He is detained. It is intimidated through smear campaigns. She is subjected to sexual violence and harassment.”
“UN Security Council Members must put pressure on the Taliban”
Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that violations of women’s rights in many parts of the world significantly undermine global efforts to prevent conflict and maintain peace, and noted that this is happening in Afghanistan, the Sahel region of Africa, Myanmar and elsewhere.
Michelle Bachelet said, “The denial of the basic rights of women and girls in Afghanistan is doing great harm to the economy and the country as a whole. It is causing a humanitarian catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. In recent months, many Afghan female human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and judges have had to flee the country or hide, after repeated threats. Many have lost all sources of income. They were also excluded from decision-making processes that affected their lives. They were also prevented from fully exercising their rights. The UN Security Council must hold the perpetrators of these violations to account. UN Security Council members should pressure the Taliban to respect fundamental human rights. I urge the Security Council to hold accountable the perpetrators of these human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including for crimes against women and girls, in order to ensure sustainable peace conditions. “I urge to establish resettlement programs and immediately stop the deportation of Afghan women seeking protection,” he said.
Bachelet noted that Africa’s Sahel region is at the bottom of the UN Gender Equality Index, the attacks by armed groups have increased, and the threat of abduction, violence, exploitation and abuse against women and girls has also increased.