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Speech THIS MANDATE RENEWAL SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE WILL NOT ABANDON WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFGHANISTAN: UK STATEMENT AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara
Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government Thank you, President. Restrictions on the rights of
Afghan women and girls - across political, economic and social spheres – are becoming increasingly acute. Women continue to be erased from Afghan society. Girls are still barred from
secondary school. Today’s unanimous decision to renew UNAMA’s robust mandate sends a clear message: the international community will not abandon women and girls. The work of the mission in
protecting, promoting and monitoring the rights of all Afghans, including advocating for inclusive and representative governance is more important than ever. And through it, we will work to
hold the Taliban to account on its commitments. The Taliban’s recent decree barring Afghan women from working for NGOs has also impacted humanitarian operations. This at a time when more
than 28 million people, two thirds of the population, are in humanitarian need. We commend UNAMA’s ongoing work in leading and coordinating efforts to get aid to those who need it most, in
challenging circumstances. In closing, I want to pay tribute to the tireless work of UNAMA, UN agencies and NGO implementing partners on the ground, and to reaffirm the UK’s solidarity with
the Afghan people. Thank you. UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 16 March 2023