Statement by the European Union of Women Executive Board and the Legal and Human Rights Commission

Statement by the European Union of Women Executive Board and the Legal and Human Rights Commission
September 2021
 
Women and girls in Afghanistan are in danger of being exposed to many forms of gender-based violence and gender inequality.
 
Serious consideration must be given to measures to prevent discrimination, violence, harassment, trafficking and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
 
Women remaining in Afghanistan and all refugees must be protected by the relevant international legislative instruments relating to equality and the status of refugees as well as the applicable human rights conventions. All nations should ensure the application of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Afghanistan is a Party.
 
We send our thanks to our sister NGOs who have been in the country for some time and we know that many of them are keen to stay and carry on their work. We call on all governments to use their diplomatic channels to protect and support these NGOs.
 
In its Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023 the Council of Europe strongly emphasises the need of protecting the rights of refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls and we strongly endorse this.
 
EUW urges the EU Member States to have regard to the legislative framework of the Common European Asylum System, which balances the interests of the EU with the interests of those in urgent need.
 
In addition, we call on all governments and organisations to use NGOs such as UN Women to manage humanitarian aid and funding for rebuilding projects. It is through the NGOs already there that women can be supported. All funding should be in accordance with a funding framework where women are equally the beneficiaries.

Note to Editors
 
The European Union of Women (EUW) is composed of women in public life, female members of the European Parliament and national parliaments, and professionals in local communities drawn from Christian Democratic, Conservative and like‐minded political parties in 15 countries. Founded in The Hague in 1954, it is a NGO with consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe.