Female Foreign Ministers of the World: Afghanistan is the Most Repressive Country for Women

The statement, issued after a meeting of female foreign ministers in Ottawa on Tuesday, called for the repeal of the Taliban's "Vice and Virtue" law. The ministers emphasized that this law has intensified existing restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

The meeting, attended by foreign ministers from Canada, Andorra, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Mongolia, Slovenia, Sweden, the European Union, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, examined the "dire" situation of Afghan women and expressed strong concern over the systematic and widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan by the Taliban, particularly those affecting women and girls.

The foreign ministers strongly condemned the ban on girls' education in medical institutes and warned that if this decree is not revoked, Afghanistan will lose an entire generation of female healthcare professionals. They noted that in a society with cultural norms favoring treatment of women by women, the absence of female doctors endangers the health of millions of women and children.

Part of the statement reads: "Afghanistan is the only country in the world where women and girls are deprived of secondary and higher education. This ban is not only a personal tragedy for every Afghan girl but also a collective blow to the country's development, economic growth, and stability."

The female foreign ministers, referring to the Taliban's request for international recognition, stated that "there is no future for any country that seeks to exclude women from public life."

They called on the Taliban to adhere to Afghanistan's international commitments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and to lift restrictions on women.

The female foreign ministers emphasized that achieving a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is only possible if all citizens, including women and girls, can fully participate in and contribute to the country's future.

They urged all countries to support the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of Afghan women in discussions about the country's future, including the UN-led Doha process. The ministers also called on the Taliban to facilitate an inclusive political process that reflects the diversity of Afghan society.

It is worth noting that since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions, including depriving women of work, education, and social participation. These policies have faced widespread condemnation from international institutions and human rights organizations.