Iran Asks Taliban to Respect Human Rights

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi delivered a speech to a Tuesday meeting of the United Nations Security Council on “Women, Peace and Security: Women’s economic inclusion and participation as a key to building peace.”

What follows is the text of her speech:

“Madam President,

I thank you for convening this open debate. I also thank the briefers for their briefings.

Today the world is ravaged by miscellaneous humanitarian crises, including but not limited to armed- conflicts, climate change and recently the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, women play an undeniable role in dealing with such challenges particularly those related to promoting dialogue and confidence in the peace and security process.

It is a well-known fact that encouraging women to engage in the peace process increases the possibility of peace.

As a result, their participation and inclusion in the peace process increase the efficiency of humanitarian assistance, improve civilian protection, contribute to the political resolution of disputes and the maintenance of long-term peace, and accelerate economic recovery.

Numerous UN resolutions have highlighted the importance of women's empowerment in armed-conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict situations, as well as their greater efforts to maintain international peace and security.

Given their important role, women's political, social, and economic empowerment is critical because it enhances their resistance in times of crisis and encourages their participation in peace and reconciliation processes, as well as post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives.

Promoting women's rights, dignity and empowerment is among the prerequisites for the development of all societies.

With that in mind, the Islamic Republic of Iran since its establishment has always considered the promotion of cultural, social, economic, and political status of women and girls as a key element in its policy-making, legislation, and national planning.

Despite the US illegal and inhumane sanctions, which have negatively affected the financing and executing the programs planned by government, civil society and private sectors aiming at women advancement and empowerment, Iran has remarkable achievements in this area. 

Madam President,

In our fragile region, we continue to observe the devastation created by armed- conflicts, violent extremism and foreign occupation and aggressions, as well as terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians including women and girls.

Palestinian women and girls continue to suffer as a result of the decades-long occupation and human rights violations, as well as the Israeli regime's colonial and Apartheid policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, all of which violate basic rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

In Afghanistan, the current situation has severely affected Afghan women's rights, including their political and socioeconomic rights, such as the right to education, work, and political participation.

Afghan women’s rights must be respected.

The Taliban should heed the international community’s call to protect human rights, particularly women’s rights.

Finally, we restate our principled position that issues concerning women and girls are the responsibility of the General Assembly.

The Security Council should only address this issue if it is directly related to the maintenance of international peace and security.

I thank you, Madam President.”