Sima Bahous: “Afghan Women Still Hope to Achieve Their Dreams One Day”

Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, says that despite the Taliban’s severe repression and restrictions, Afghan women still hope that one day they will achieve their dreams.

Bahous made these remarks on Monday (October 6) during a United Nations Security Council meeting focused on “Women, Peace, and Security,” stating: “Their hope is not an idle wish, and it is more than a coping mechanism. It is a political statement. A conviction. An inspiration.”

She added that according to findings by UN Women, 92 percent of Afghans, including men, support girls’ access to education.

The Executive Director of UN Women warned that global funding cuts threaten educational opportunities for Afghan girls. She called for urgent investment in women-centered institutions and for ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes and peace negotiations.

The Security Council meeting, titled “Women Lead, Peace Follows,” focused on the role of women in building peace in conflict-affected countries from Afghanistan to Gaza and Sudan.

Bahous’s remarks came a day after the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing an independent accountability mechanism in Afghanistan; a body mandated to document human rights violations by the Taliban and refer the perpetrators to international courts.