UN Security Council members urged the Taliban on Friday to immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls, reiterating the body's call for the allowance of “full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors regardless of gender”.
The group stressed that female aid workers played a vital role in Afghanistan’s “dire humanitarian situation”, given their ability to offer “critical life-saving support to women and girls” in places where men are not allowed.
The joint statement from 11 of the 15 council members added that the body will continue to closely monitor developments on the ground and respond accordingly.
In December, the Taliban issued a decree ordering all domestic and international NGOs to suspend female aid workers, claiming that the women were not observing an edict requiring them to wear a hijab.
On Thursday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that attacks on the rights of women and girls by the Taliban were “creating gender-based apartheid”.
According to a UN official in Kabul familiar with negotiations with the Taliban, the world body has tried for weeks to “deliberately engage” with as many of the regime's leading figures as possible.
“We just tried to be very clear that if they think this is simply a matter of removing a few thousand women from the workplace, then they have got their calculations wrong, and the consequences of this are pretty far reaching,” the UN official told The National.
The official estimated that famine was only narrowly averted in the country last year due to the efforts of NGOs, the donor community and UN aid workers.
However, Amnesty International's regional director of South Asia believes that the Taliban “are intentionally driving the country into famine”.
“Their discriminatory policies are bringing shocking levels of food insecurity and making the delivery of international assistance almost impossible,” Yamini Mishra said in a statement.
“Women were already on the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of access to critical aid services, but it seems they are being completely erased.”
A diplomat in Kabul, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The National that the decisions were being made by “a small, elite group in Kandahar in the south who determine policy” and the group's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The diplomat added that most of the Taliban did not agree with the decisions issued last month that barred women from working with NGOs and forced them out of classrooms.
Mr Akhundzada was named as the Taliban’s supreme leader in 2016 after the group’s previous leader, Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a US air strike in Pakistan.
“We've seen the Taliban so-called Supreme Leader, whom they refer to as the emir, really exerting his authority and implementing his vision, and the vision of a small group around him, what they believe is a proper Islamic state,” the diplomat said.
“And the ministers themselves — some very, very powerful people who'd been associated with the insurgency so far — claim they were unable to really convey the severity of the position, as they're not being listened to.”
According to the source, Mr Akhundzada “has not met a single foreigner”.
In addition to the new bans, rates of child marriage in the country have increased at an alarming rate.
According to the UN children's fund, about 28 per cent of Afghan women aged 15—49 marry before the age of 18.
The UN agency told The National that aid workers are hearing more reports of families exchanging their young daughters for a dowry to ensure their survival, security or to pay off loans. There have also been reports of parents selling young children to strangers.
As the dire situation in the country continues, in recent weeks, about 150 major international aid agencies have suspended operations in Afghanistan due to the ban, including the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The organisation's director, Jan Egeland, travelled to Kabul this week to meet the Taliban and press them to reverse the ban on women working with NGOs.
Adam Combs, the organisation's Asia director, told The National that he remains “hopeful” a solution can be found.
“[We must be] very clear in what we're looking for in the solutions of what is acceptable and what is doable for us, because the reality is, we cannot do our job without our female colleagues and so therefore, we need to have them with us in this solution,” Mr Combs said.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, 20 years after their removal by US troops, the group has struggled to form a functioning government that can provide health services, food and economic opportunities for Afghans.
They have also imposed an extreme interpretation of Islamic law that virtually excludes women and girls from public life, despite pledges to protect women's rights.
In 2021, most female government employees were barred from coming to work. In March last year, girls were banned from secondary schools.
The dress code for women has been severely restricted and women have been banned from public parks and gyms.
Though the new measures have triggered global outrage as well as protests across Afghanistan, the Taliban have refused to overturn any of their decisions, stating that they are internal issues that should be free of foreign interference.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
