Zan News: Nasir Ahmad Faiq, the acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly held on Friday night (November 1) that the Taliban have shown no willingness to respond to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the international community. Photo: UN Nasir Ahmad Faiq: Taliban Have Shown No Willingness to Respond to the Legitimate Demands of the Afghan People November 2, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Nasir Ahmad Faiq, the acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly held on Friday night (November 1) that the Taliban have shown no willingness to respond to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the international community. He emphasized in this meeting that despite repeated calls for the formation of an inclusive and accountable government that represents the will and participation of all segments of society, especially women, the Taliban have imposed a government that prioritizes exclusivity over unity. Faiq also pointed to the disproportionate harms of the Taliban's repressive policies against women and girls, describing these restrictions as a form of gender apartheid. He added that these policies amount to destroying half of Afghanistan's potential and pushing society towards backwardness. He also emphasized that in addition to gender issues, ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hazara community, are facing harassment, discrimination, and targeted attacks. Faiq noted that one of the most worrying issues is the Taliban's revenge against former security forces and government officials and that despite promises of amnesty, reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of former military personnel continue. The acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN continued by saying that the Taliban's policies do not reflect the true Islamic values or the traditions of the Afghan people and that these policies deepen the cycle of poverty, dependency, and conflict in Afghanistan. He also supported the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and, in addition to calling for the recognition of gender apartheid, called for the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism for Afghanistan to complement the work of the Special Rapporteur. Faiq welcomed the initiative of Germany, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands to hold the Taliban accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and stated that this initiative, which may be brought to the International Court of Justice, demonstrates a global commitment to holding the Taliban accountable for human rights violations. He emphasized the need for a unified and human rights-based approach by the international community, saying: "We call for a principled stance in interactions that makes measurable progress in the field of human rights a prerequisite for any dialogue with the Taliban. This approach will strengthen accountability and place human rights at the center of diplomatic efforts." In conclusion, Faiq referred to the dark reality facing the Afghan people today, which is rapidly threatening their freedom, dignity, and security, and emphasized that the international community cannot remain indifferent to this situation.

Karima, a woman who lives in Kabul with her three daughters, is an example of the many female household heads in Afghanistan who face numerous challenges in providing for their families and caring for their children amidst the country's current economic and social hardships. Girls in Boys' Clothes; The Lives of Women Breadwinners in Afghanistan May 15, 2024 Maryam Naiby Karima, a woman who lives in Kabul with her three daughters, is an example of the many female household heads in Afghanistan who face numerous challenges in providing for their families and caring for their children amidst the country's current economic and social hardships. Fifteen years ago, Karima lost her husband in a car accident and has since been solely responsible for raising her three daughters. Due to various health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems, Karima is unable to work. The only source of income for the family is the 14-year-old daughter, who sells vegetables on the streets dressed as a boy. Karima says, "I am sick myself. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Because of this, I cannot work. Only one daughter of mine works, who is 14 years old. My daughter dresses as a boy and works so that she appears to be a boy, because if it is known that she is a girl, she cannot work and will face problems." Speaking about the challenges her 14-year-old daughter faced working outside the home, she said, "My daughter used to face a lot of problems when she worked outside the home. She had long hair and wore a headscarf, which caused her problems at work. People who knew she was a girl, they say all kinds of things to her. Finally, I had to cut her hair short and put her in boy's clothes." Karima's daughter also faces harassment and work stoppage by the Taliban while working. Karimeh says, "The Taliban create problems, sometimes they let my daughter's cart work and sometimes they don't." The Karima family is struggling with extreme poverty. They are barely able to afford basic living expenses such as food, shelter, and medicine. Karima says she has not been able to pay rent for three months and they often go through meals without food. Karima speaks about the hardships of meeting basic needs: "We are unable to meet our basic needs. We are struggling to get by, and our days and nights are spent in hardship. Even if we have food one time, we won't have food for two other times." She has also faced gender discrimination due to being a woman. Her brother-in-law threw her out of her husband's house and deprived her of her inheritance. Karima says, "When my husband died, my brother-in-law threw me out of the house and did not give me my rights because I was a woman and I could not defend myself." Karima has so far received little help from humanitarian organizations. She says that aid often goes to people close to the "representative of area" and not to needy families like hers. Karima says about the challenges of female-headed households in Afghanistan that "the situation in Afghanistan is very bad. It is very difficult for a woman to earn a living for her family and household and to be the head of the household." Karima's wish for the future is to have a peaceful and secure life for herself and her daughters. She hopes that her daughters will be able to go to school, get an education and have a good job. Karima also calls for equal rights for women and equal opportunities for education, work and participation in society. She calls on the Taliban to allow women to be educated and employed.

Zan News: The "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" states that three years into Taliban rule, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening day by day, making the country unsafe for journalists, human rights defenders, civil activists, and security forces. Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile: Afghanistan is Not Safe for Journalists and Human Rights Defenders July 21, 2024 Zan TV Zan News: The "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" states that three years into Taliban rule, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening day by day, making the country unsafe for journalists, human rights defenders, civil activists, and security forces. On Saturday (July 20), this federation, in an gathering, called for an end to the forced deportation of journalists, human rights defenders, security forces, and at-risk individuals from Iran. Members of this federation stated: "After the Taliban's return to power and the imposition of numerous restrictions, along with the fear of being pursued, arrested, and tortured, hundreds of journalists, human rights defenders, and at-risk individuals fled Afghanistan, seeking refuge in Iran with hopes of eventually reaching immigrant-friendly countries." The statement from the "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" noted that with the intensified forced deportation of millions of Afghan migrants, including at-risk individuals in Iran, these people are now in a very difficult situation. This comes as the International Organization for Migration reported last Thursday that from April to June of this year, 858,170 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan, while 532,854 people have migrated to these countries. According to the report, 56% of these Afghans returned from Iran involuntarily, 46% voluntarily, and 39% due to economic difficulties.

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Ghor province have reported that a gas cylinder explosion in a residential house injured four women and one man from the same family. Social Media Gas Cylinder Explosion in Ghor Injures Five Family Members December 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Ghor province have reported that a gas cylinder explosion in a residential house injured four women and one man from the same family. According to a statement from the press office of the Taliban's police command in Ghor, the incident occurred on Sunday (December 15) in the village of Alandar, located on the outskirts of Firozkoh, the provincial capital. The statement noted that the injured were transported to the hospital with the assistance of the third security district in Firozkoh. Local Taliban authorities stated that the primary cause of the explosion was negligence in properly storing the liquefied gas cylinder. It is worth mentioning that Ghor province faces significant challenges during the winter due to its mountainous terrain and extreme cold. Most families use gas cylinders to heat their homes, but this method sometimes poses serious risks, including explosions and gas poisoning.

Zan News: Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), met with several members of the "Afghanistan Women for Justice Coalition." Photo: IntlCrimCourt International Criminal Court Prosecutor Meets with Afghan Women Activists December 7, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), met with several members of the "Afghanistan Women for Justice Coalition." On Friday (December 6), the International Criminal Court issued a message on X, stating that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the ICC member states' conference in the Netherlands. The court added that Karim Khan’s office, in collaboration with victims of gender-based violence and Afghanistan’s civil society, has prioritized taking action on crimes related to gender-based violence in Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning that in his speech at the opening of the International Criminal Court member states' conference, Karim Khan emphasized that a request for an arrest warrant regarding Afghanistan's case would soon be presented. He had also previously referred to significant progress in the investigation of allegations of sexual and gender-based violence in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, countries such as Chile, Australia, France, Costa Rica, Luxembourg, and Mexico have referred the case of women's and girls' rights violations in Afghanistan to the International Criminal Court, urging the court to investigate the violations of women's and girls' rights following the Taliban's return to power in the country as part of its ongoing investigations into Afghanistan.

Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that eight individuals, including a woman, were publicly punished in Kunar province for charges of theft, running away from home, and "sodomy." Social Media Eight People, Including One Woman, Punished by the Taliban in Kunar October 14, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that eight individuals, including a woman, were publicly punished in Kunar province for charges of theft, running away from home, and "sodomy." According to the court's statement released on Sunday, October 13, one of the individuals was sentenced to three years in prison and 20 lashes. The statement further detailed that two others were sentenced to 39 lashes each and two years in prison, while another person received a sentence of one year in prison and 20 lashes. Additionally, the court reported that two individuals were sentenced to seven months in prison and 20 lashes each, while two more were sentenced to 15 days in prison. It is worth noting that, according to reports, the Taliban have subjected approximately 30 people to corporal punishment in various provinces over the past month.

Zan News: On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Purple Saturdays Movement held protest rallies in the provinces of Takhar, Balkh, Parwan, and Kabul and issued a statement criticizing the international community for its "failure" in combating violence against women in Afghanistan. Sent to Zan News Purple Saturdays Movement: The International Community Has Had a Compounded Failure in Combating Violence Against Women in Afghanistan November 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Purple Saturdays Movement held protest rallies in the provinces of Takhar, Balkh, Parwan, and Kabul and issued a statement criticizing the international community for its "failure" in combating violence against women in Afghanistan. The statement, released on Monday, November 25, reads: "1198 dark days; the international community has had a compounded failure in fighting violence against women in Afghanistan." The statement emphasizes that "over the past three years, the Taliban have turned the country into a hell of structural repression and systemic violence against women and girls, driving them into forced domestic confinement by systematically eliminating social structures and criminalizing gender. They are implementing unprecedented gender apartheid and a discriminatory system, which is a bitter and despairing interpretation of the ongoing tragedy in women's rights in Afghanistan." The statement also points to the consequences of the Taliban's violence, adding: "This violence has alarmingly led to an increase in mental health issues, forced and child marriages, suicides, domestic violence, and sexual assaults by Taliban fighters." The movement further criticized the international community, particularly the United Nations and UNAMA, for their lack of decisive response to the "crimes" of the Taliban, stating: "After 1198 dark days, the international community has not only failed to take serious action against these crimes, but has systematically reduced sanctions and pressures on the Taliban based on political and economic interests, which reflects the moral collapse of the global community's collective responsibility." The statement highlights that the contradictory actions of the international community have made Afghan women more vulnerable, causing not only a sharp decline in street protests but also making it increasingly difficult for women to raise their voices against gender-based violence by the Taliban, even within their homes (closed spaces). Another section of the statement reads: "As we witness the arrival of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, thousands, including women, remain tortured in Taliban prisons. The group is reopening the Bagram prison and turning it into the largest torture and killing ground for political prisoners, and it will not be long before it becomes a center for inhumane torture of protesting women." The movement warns that normalizing relations with the Taliban and failing to respond decisively to their crimes is a strategic miscalculation in international diplomacy. This not only undermines human rights values but will lead to an expansion of violence, gender apartheid, and increased extremism in the region and the world, which will undoubtedly incur heavy costs for those engaging with the Taliban. The statement also asserts: "What the Taliban are openly doing to women and girls in Afghanistan, right before the eyes of the world, constitutes a gross international crime and a wide violation of fundamental human rights and women's rights that must be immediately stopped, and the arrest warrants for Taliban leaders should be issued by the International Criminal Court." The statement also notes that despite repeated requests from human rights activists, women's rights groups, and protest movements inside Afghanistan, no decisive and serious actions have been taken to prosecute Taliban leaders. The statement concludes: "We condemn the international community's weak will in addressing and fighting violence against women in Afghanistan and their lack of genuine commitment to holding the Taliban leaders accountable. We stress that the continued passive stance of the international community is unacceptable based on human and legal standards, and we call on the international community and the UN General Assembly to fulfill their commitments, refrain from implicitly legitimizing a human rights-violating regime, and prevent the Taliban from attending international meetings." The statement ends with: "We urge the international community to support an alternative government to the self-proclaimed Taliban regime, and instead, support a legitimate, democratic, and decentralized system to save Afghanistan, particularly the women, from the current suffocating situation."

Zan News: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided employment for over 400 female farmers in Afghanistan through a project to replace opium poppy cultivation. UN Provided Employment Opportunities for Over 400 Female Farmers July 8, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided employment for over 400 female farmers in Afghanistan through a project to replace opium poppy cultivation. In a report, the agency said that with a $90 million budget provided by the International Narcotics Control Board and United States, it is supporting thousands of former poppy farmers who have successfully switched crops through a community-based agriculture project. The report said that part of the project also focuses on empowering female farmers in the opium poppy replacement sector. UNDP mentioned a woman under the pseudonym Aisha who has established a women-led tomato processing unit in Mazar-e Sharif with the support of the agency. According to the report, in addition to empowering female farmers, UNDP has also supported women's businesses in other sectors that create job and leadership opportunities for women. The agency said it has supported over 100 agricultural businesses in Afghanistan and has also facilitated trade missions that have resulted in significant international sales of Afghan products, particularly dried fruits and nuts. It is worth noting that despite the Taliban's ban on women and girls working in various sectors, private businesses are among the sectors where women have the right to work. It should also be noted that the ban on women working has had a severe impact on Afghanistan's economy. According to UN statistics, the ban on women working costs Afghanistan's economy about $1 billion annually. The UN is issuing this warning as Afghanistan is experiencing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Zan News - Kunduz: A man in Kunduz province has slit the throats of his two young children with a knife and injured his wife. A Man in Kunduz Slit Throats of His Two Children with a Knife August 28, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kunduz: A man in Kunduz province has slit the throats of his two young children with a knife and injured his wife. Local sources in Kunduz say that this incident occurred on Sunday of this week (August 25th) in the Gul Bagh village of the Chahar Dara district of this province. Sources added that the beheaded children were a 9-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. Local Taliban officials in Chahar Dara, Kunduz, have also released a picture of the man and announced that he has been arrested on charges of killing his children. The man's wife has been transferred to the hospital. The motive for this incident is still unknown. This incident comes after a woman was beheaded by her husband in the "Ghulam Farooq" village of the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province yesterday. It is worth mentioning that in recent weeks, criminal incidents have increased unprecedentedly in various parts of the country.

Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed support for the right to education and employment for Afghan women at a meeting in Austria, calling on the international community to take concrete steps to address this issue. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): The World Must Take Practical Steps to Uphold the Rights of Afghan Women June 5, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed support for the right to education and employment for Afghan women at a meeting in Austria, calling on the international community to take concrete steps to address this issue. In a meeting titled "Women's Rights in Afghanistan: A Regional Problem with Global Impact," the organization emphasized that the challenges faced by Afghan women have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and security. The OSCE meeting, held at the organization's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, brought together representatives and experts from various countries to focus on the challenges faced by Afghan women. North Macedonia, as the OSCE's current Chair, hosted the meeting. The meeting stressed practical solutions for empowering Afghan women and reducing their challenges. The OSCE issued a statement stating that it supports the rights of Afghan women, especially their right to education and employment, and calls for sustained international support and cooperation in this area. Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan's ambassador to Austria, also attended the meeting and spoke about the situation of women and girls under Taliban rule. Ms. Bakhtari wrote in her X account that the situation in Afghanistan has undeniable consequences for the world. She emphasized that this situation poses increasing security threats to the region, the OSCE and beyond. The Afghan ambassador to Austria stressed the importance of supporting the empowerment of women in Afghanistan, saying that supporting Afghan women is a direct contribution to the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. It is worth noting that for nearly three years, the Taliban has violated all fundamental women's rights by banning Afghan women from education and employment. Despite its emphasis on upholding women's rights, the world has so far failed to persuade the Taliban to abandon its misogynistic stance. The OSCE has stated that the challenges faced by Afghan women, including education, healthcare and employment, will have far-reaching consequences for regional security.