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Zan News: Dorothy Shea, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, criticized the Taliban's approach towards Afghan citizens, especially women, during a UN Security Council meeting, stating that any action leading to the recognition of the group must be avoided. Photo: Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS US: Any Move to Recognize the Taliban Must Be Avoided September 19, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Dorothy Shea, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, criticized the Taliban's approach towards Afghan citizens, especially women, during a UN Security Council meeting, stating that any action leading to the recognition of the group must be avoided. Shea made these remarks on Wednesday (September 18) during the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, adding that with each new decree issued, the Taliban further distance themselves from the people of Afghanistan and the international community. Referring to the Taliban's newly enacted "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, she emphasized that this law challenges the global community's engagement with the Taliban. The U.S. diplomat described the Taliban's new restrictions as "gender oppression" and stressed that the U.S. continues to engage with various Afghan groups, including the Taliban, to address the needs of the Afghan people. However, she noted: "Frankly, the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan raises many questions about the effectiveness of such engagement with the Taliban." Shea also urged the UN not to overlook Resolution 2721, which calls for the appointment of a special representative for Afghanistan to address human rights violations by the Taliban. These remarks were made during the Security Council meeting, which focused on the situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Earlier, UNAMA chief Rosa Otunbayeva had said that the enactment of the Taliban's "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law jeopardized efforts for renewed international engagement with the group.

Zan News: Afghan women activists, after holding a three-day meeting in Albania, issued a resolution describing the current situation of women in the country as “gender apartheid” and “gender-based persecution.” Photo: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Albania Afghan Women Activists Meeting in Albania; The Current Situation of Women in Afghanistan is Gender-Based Persecution September 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Afghan women activists, after holding a three-day meeting in Albania, issued a resolution describing the current situation of women in the country as “gender apartheid” and “gender-based persecution.” This meeting was held from September 11 to 13 in Tirana, the capital of Albania, with the participation of women activists from inside and outside Afghanistan. The resolution of this meeting pointed out that one of the main gaps in recognizing gender apartheid in international laws lies in the lack of political will among UN member states to recognize this situation as a crime against humanity. The women activists called for decisive action by the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations and to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. In this meeting, the international community was urged to use existing international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations. Additionally, the resolution emphasized the allocation of resources for documenting human rights violations in Afghanistan, reopening schools and universities for girls with assurance of education according to international standards and digital literacy, and the return of women to work with dignity and income. Participants in this meeting also called for increased transparency in the distribution of international aid, better coordination of this aid with women-led organizations, and facilitating women’s access to international markets. Part of the resolution stated that issues such as the presence of women in meetings and dialogues with the Taliban, consulting women on the agenda of these talks, and human rights principles in negotiations with the Taliban were approved in the working committees of this meeting, but no consensus was reached in the general meeting. This meeting was organized by the “Women for Afghanistan” organization and hosted by the Albanian government. Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women and Girls, was also present.

Zan News: On the eve of the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network has issued a statement calling August 15 a black and ominous day for the people of Afghanistan and urging the international community to support the Afghan people. Sent to Zan News Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network: August 15 is a Black and Ominous Day for the People of Afghanistan August 11, 2024 Zan News Zan News: On the eve of the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network has issued a statement calling August 15 a black and ominous day for the people of Afghanistan and urging the international community to support the Afghan people. The statement reads: “August 15, 2021, is the day the international community handed Afghanistan over to the Taliban, destroying the lives, destinies, and futures of millions of Afghans.” The network emphasized that this day symbolizes the unjust transfer of power to a “terrorist group” and the collapse of the hopes and dreams of the Afghan people. The statement also highlights ongoing crises in Afghanistan, including the denial of women's basic rights, increased domestic violence, forced marriages, and gender discrimination. According to the network, the Taliban, through their “restrictive and cruel” decrees, the establishment of desert courts, and proxy wars, pose a serious threat to the future of Afghanistan and the world. The network also stresses the existence of gender apartheid in Afghanistan and calls for the international community to recognize this situation and hold the perpetrators accountable. In the statement, the Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network reaffirms its commitment to continue the fight for freedom, peace, and hope in Afghanistan and urges the international community to hear the voices of the Afghan people and withdraw support from the Taliban.

Zan TV: Afghanistan's First Channel by and for Women. Watch breaking news, special reports, and more. About Us Empowering Afghan Women Through Media: Zan TV is devoted to uplifting Afghan women by equipping them with essential media skills and amplifying their voices. Our goal is to inspire societal change, foster equality, and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. Biography Hamid Samar is an Afghan media entrepreneur and visionary leader, best known as the founder and president of Zan TV, the first television channel in Afghanistan dedicated exclusively to women’s voices and stories. His entrepreneurial spirit has driven him to establish multiple successful ventures, creating employment opportunities for Afghans both within the country and abroad. In 2016, Samar founded RASA TV in Nengarhar province, demonstrating his dedication to expanding media access across Afghanistan. Building on this achievement, he launched Zan TV in 2017, a trailblazing platform that quickly gained national and international acclaim for its commitment to empowering Afghan women through media. Zan TV became a symbol of hope and resilience, offering women a space to express themselves, report on issues relevant to their lives, and challenge societal norms. Samar’s passion for media innovation led to the creation of Zan Media Academy, the first hands-on media training center for women journalists in Afghanistan, equipping them with practical skills and confidence in their craft. Amid the significant challenges following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Samar’s leadership has kept Zan TV alive, adapting to restrictions while maintaining its mission of advocating for Afghan women. His unwavering dedication serves as an inspiration, underscoring his belief in the power of media to foster change and promote equality. Hamid Samar CEO and founder of Zan TV Overview Zan TV, founded in 2017 in Afghanistan, has a primary goal of empowering women in various aspects of life. The channel's programs are not limited to just providing information but also delve into the broader implications, encouraging critical thinking and enhancing the audience's comprehension of women's empowerment and its effects on societal progress. Zan TV is committed to equipping women with the necessary skills in media production, utilizing a range of technologies to help them grasp fundamental concepts and enhance their technical expertise. This enables them to discern captivating and educational content, aimed at informing, educating, inspiring, and influencing behavior change among millions of women in Afghanistan. Ultimately, this has the potential to reshape societal perceptions of women and revolutionize their status in the country. Objective By empowering women, Zan TV believes that it can drive economic growth and development while eradicating all forms of discrimination against women. The channel's efforts are geared towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable society where women are not only empowered but also respected and valued for their contributions. Through its diverse range of programs and training initiatives, Zan TV aims to create a platform where women can thrive professionally and personally, ultimately leading to a positive impact on the lives of women across Afghanistan. By championing women's empowerment, Zan TV is paving the way for a brighter future where women are seen as equal partners in progress and are able to fulfill their potential without any barriers or limitations Vission and Mission Our mission is to give Afghan women center stage in digital media, consulting their political, economic, social, cultural, and psychological status. A platform where they can showcase her achievements and strengths, share her innovative ideas and concepts, discuss her challenges and issues, and voice their opinions against violence, harassment, and gender-based discrimination. Our vision is equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal participation of men and women in society to enhance our chance of achieving development goals.

Zan News - Kabul: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that with 1,000 days having passed since the Taliban's ban on education for girls above sixth grade in Afghanistan, these girls have lost three billion hours of schooling. A Thousand Days of Darkness: Afghan Girls Lost Three Billion Hours of Education June 13, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kabul: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that with 1,000 days having passed since the Taliban's ban on education for girls above sixth grade in Afghanistan, these girls have lost three billion hours of schooling. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, described this day on Thursday (June 13) as a "tragic" and concerning turning point. Ms. Russell stated that the systematic deprivation of education for 1.5 million girls by the Taliban is not only a blatant violation of their right to education but also, according to her, has led to reduced opportunities and worsened mental health conditions for the girls. She emphasized that children's rights, especially those of girls, should not be held hostage to politics. According to Russell, this ban, in addition to negatively affecting the girls' mental health, will also exacerbate humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. In a statement, UNICEF said: "Education does not just create opportunities. It protects girls from early marriage, malnutrition, and other health issues." Despite the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan, UNICEF, in collaboration with other aid organizations, has provided educational opportunities for nearly three million children in the country. The UNICEF Executive Director stated: "Together with our partners, we are keeping 2.7 million children in primary education, establishing community-based education classes for 600,000 children, two-thirds of whom are girls, and doing everything we can to maintain educational infrastructure." UNICEF has once again called on the Taliban to reopen schools above the sixth grade and universities for girls in Afghanistan. Russell also addressed the international community, emphasizing that Afghan girls need global support more than ever. It has been 1,000 days since the Taliban first issued the order banning education for girls above the sixth grade, and about 600 days since universities were closed to girls.

"I took pills to die so I could be permanently free from the Taliban, but I survived misfortune..." "Even death didn't accompaniment me, let alone life..." "Where should I go, so that my name and trace of being a girl will not remain? Believe me, I am tired of this oppression of the Taliban..." "I just wanted to become a midwife, but my education was once again died..." These are direct quotes from girls who say they attempted suicide due to the ban on education in medical institutes by the Taliban. Photo: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters The Dreams Killed in the Fetus December 14, 2024 Ariahn Raya "I took pills to die so I could be permanently free from the Taliban, but I survived misfortune..." "Even death didn't accompaniment me, let alone life..." "Where should I go, so that my name and trace of being a girl will not remain? Believe me, I am tired of this oppression of the Taliban..." "I just wanted to become a midwife, but my education was once again died..." These are direct quotes from girls who say they attempted suicide due to the ban on education in medical institutes by the Taliban. When the Taliban, through an official letter, issued the order to close the doors of private and public universities to girls on December 20, 2022, Shaqayeq, 23 years old, was studying in the sixth semester of the Journalism Faculty at Herat University. However, with this ban, she was not only confined to her home but also faced depression and emotional problems. Until her family once again planted the seed of hope in Shaqayeq’s heart and enrolled her in a midwifery program at one of Herat's medical institutes. But now, the dust of lost hope is reflected on Shaqayeq's face, and she says with a voice full of tears: "My only wish was to serve the people. I wanted to become a journalist, but the Taliban didn’t allow it. My family wanted me to become a doctor, and again, they took that opportunity away from me." Becoming a midwife was the only remaining path for Shaqayeq and her family to continue her education, but this dream of hers not only failed but, according to her, her dreams were killed for the second time in the fetal period. When the Taliban issued the order to ban girls from studying in medical institutes in December 2024, Shaqayeq's second semester had not yet finished. Shaqayeq says that upon hearing the news of the education ban, the emotional pressure forced her to attempt suicide, but with her mother's help, she was saved from the grip of death. With heartbreak and restlessness, she says: "When I wanted to go to my class, as I reached the door, a Taliban pointed his gun at us and said we were not allowed to go to the university, our studies were blocked. I cried and came home. Inside the house, I found four packs of pills. I took the pills to die so I could be permanently free from the Taliban, but unfortunately, I survived. When I took the pills, my mother noticed and quickly took me to the general hospital in Herat." Mursal is another one of the girls who, after the Taliban's order banning universities, changed her field of study and enrolled in one of Herat's medical institutes. However, with the closure of medical institutes' doors to girls, she has been confined to her home for the second time and deprived of the opportunity to continue her education. Mursal, who was studying in the final semester of pharmacy, says: "The Taliban is the enemy of girls. When I came home, I was very hopeless. I took poison to die, I was unconscious. My family took me to the hospital. What can I say? Even death didn’t accompaniment me, let alone life, which could accompaniment me. I am tired of life." Najia, the sister of this girl who was deprived of education, says that after the closure of education for Mursal, she was emotionally hurt for the second time and chose to remain in seclusion. Broken Hearts and Shattered Dreams After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan for the second time, they first announced the ban on education for girls above the sixth grade in schools. One year after this ban, they closed the doors of universities to girls, and finally, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, they also announced the ban on the last remaining way for girls to continue their education. But the girls deprived of education say that with the strict bans of the Taliban, all their dreams have shattered, and they have no hope of continuing their education and life in Afghanistan. Khatira, who was studying in the final semester of the midwifery program at one of the medical institutes in Herat, says that if the Taliban had not prevented her education, she would have graduated in a few months. Khatira, who had come to terms with all the Taliban's restrictions, from changing her field of study to mandatory dress code, says with tearful eyes: "You tell me, where should I go, so that my name and trace of being a girl will not remain? Believe me, I am tired of this oppression of the Taliban. The Taliban do not give up their hostility towards women and girls. I wanted to become a midwife, but they didn’t allow it. Does a Taliban take his own wife to a male doctor? " Khatira, who is drowning in waves of hopelessness, pleads with the Taliban to reopen the doors of medical institutes to girls. Habiba, another student from the medical institutes in Herat province, says she had dreamed of going to the most remote parts of the province to treat the pain of women in areas deprived of health services, but now she herself is in need of healing. Habiba, who has been overwhelmed with worry and distress, says: "I just wanted to become a midwife, but my education was once again died. My goal was to go to the most remote area of Herat and help women, but the Taliban didn’t allow me to finish my studies." Death Lurking for Mothers and Newborns, Following the Taliban's Decision With the ban on education for girls in medical institutes, a large number of international organizations have deemed this Taliban decision a violation of human rights laws and have stated that with the absence of female doctors in Afghanistan, the maternal and neonatal mortality rates will significantly increase in the near future. The European Union has described the Taliban's decision as a 'horrific violation of fundamental human rights and an unjustifiable attack on women's right to education. The Union has called the consequences of the Taliban's decision to ban education for girls in medical institutes a 'deepening of the humanitarian crisis' in Afghanistan and has called on the Taliban to reopen the doors of education and learning for girls. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, has also expressed concern over this Taliban decision, stating that the ban on education for girls in health institutes will have a devastating impact on Afghanistan's health system. These concerns are raised while, according to information provided by the United Nations Population Fund, for every 100,000 births in Afghanistan, 638 result in the death of mothers and newborns due to the lack of facilities and doctors. This represents the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Asia. It is worth mentioning that the Taliban have not only banned girls from studying in medical institutes, but they also do not allow women and girls who have studied in medical fields to participate in the "Exit" exam.

Zan News: The Malala Yousafzai Foundation, led by Nobel laureate and girls' education advocate Malala Yousafzai, has announced its support for women's rights activists in Afghanistan working to recognize "gender apartheid" in international law. Photo: AFP Malala Yousafzai Foundation: We Support Recognizing Gender Apartheid in International Laws September 5, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Malala Yousafzai Foundation, led by Nobel laureate and girls' education advocate Malala Yousafzai, has announced its support for women's rights activists in Afghanistan working to recognize "gender apartheid" in international law. In a statement released on Thursday (September 5) marking the tenth anniversary of its activities, the foundation reiterated its concern about the halt to girls' education in Afghanistan. The Malala Yousafzai Foundation emphasized that over the past year, it has increased funding for Afghan girls' education. The statement read: "In the past year, we have strengthened our commitment to Afghan girls and women by launching various programs and providing additional funding for online education programs for girls who have been deprived of education." According to the statement, the Malala Yousafzai Foundation has supported 21.8 million students in different countries over the past 10 years. It is noteworthy that a few months ago, the foundation also announced it had donated $1.5 million for girls' education in Afghanistan. This comes as numerous human rights activists and some global organizations have called for the recognition of "gender apartheid" in international laws due to the severe violation of women's rights by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Zan News: The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has announced that Afghan women and girls made up over one-fifth of all asylum applicants to the EU in 2023. Afghan Women and Girls Constitute One-Fifth of EU Asylum Applicants in 2023 June 20, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has announced that Afghan women and girls made up over one-fifth of all asylum applicants to the EU in 2023. In a recent report, the EUAA stated that women, girls, and other vulnerable groups in Afghanistan continue to face severe threats of persecution. According to the report, Afghan citizens submitted approximately 118,000 asylum applications to EU countries in 2023, which represents a slight decrease compared to 2022. The report highlights that over one-fifth of all asylum applicants were Afghan women and girls. It also notes that Germany remains the primary destination for Afghan asylum seekers, with the acceptance rate of Afghan asylum applications in EU countries standing at 55%, meaning that about half of the applicants were granted asylum. Previously, the EUAA had announced that women in Afghanistan qualify for asylum due to persecution and oppression by the Taliban. This comes as, since the Taliban's takeover, women have been banned from education, employment, and participating in many public places, and severe restrictions have been placed on their travel.

Zan News - Badghis: Local sources in Badghis province have reported the murder of a 28-year-old woman named "Naz Bibi" in Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital. 28-year-old Woman Murdered in Badghis September 7, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Badghis: Local sources in Badghis province have reported the murder of a 28-year-old woman named "Naz Bibi" in Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital. According to sources, the woman was suffocated and killed on Saturday (September 7) in the "Jar Haji Sakhi" area. So far, there is no accurate information available regarding the perpetrators of this murder or the motive behind it. Local Taliban officials in Badghis have not yet commented on this matter. This comes as cases of women being murdered in Afghanistan have increased in recent weeks. A few days ago, a man in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar beheaded his wife.

Zan News: The U.S. Department of State has called the Taliban's ban on girls' education in medical institutes an "unjustifiable attack on their access to education" and strongly condemned the decision. Photo: AP The U.S. Condemns the Taliban's Ban on Girls' Education in Medical Institutes December 12, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The U.S. Department of State has called the Taliban's ban on girls' education in medical institutes an "unjustifiable attack on their access to education" and strongly condemned the decision. In a statement issued on Wednesday (December 11), the Department said: "This directive is the latest in a series of efforts that put the rights and lives of Afghan women and girls at risk." The statement also emphasized that the United States remains committed to supporting the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and will stand alongside all Afghans in advocating for their full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of society. The U.S. State Department added: "The international community must be united and explicit in condemning these actions and supporting the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls." This condemnation follows the recent Taliban decree banning girls from studying in medical institutes. Previously, United Nations experts also condemned the Taliban's decision, calling it an unjustifiable move.