Strasbourg, 23 November 2022
The European Parliament drafted an urgency resolution on the human rights situation in Afghanistan especially the deterioration of women’s rights and attacks against educational institutions. Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Željana Zovko was the negotiator for the EPP Group.
In the debate preceding the vote on the resolution, Zovko strongly condemned the systematic rollback of the respect for rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. She stated that since the Taliban took power they have restricted women’s position in society and closed secondary schools for girls.
With the resolution, Zovko says, the Parliament sends a strong message in support of those women and girls affected and calls for the reopening of education institutions across the country for both boys and girls and offer schooling according to the UNESCO standards and principles.
Zovko also underlined the clear condemnation by the resolution of the increasing attacks in Afghanistan against minority groups, including Christians. She said that discrimination against all ethnic and religious communities should be prohibited, as well as the disrespect against the different places of worship and educational centres.