Afghanistan pledging event 31 March 2022

(read by Mr Daniel Sloper, Special Representative on Afghanistan)

Thank you very much H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (Qatar), H.E. Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss (UK), H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock (Germany), H.E. Mr. António Guterres (UN) and Mr. Martin Griffiths (UN) for convening this important humanitarian pledging event for Afghanistan.

Australia is deeply concerned by the crisis suffered by the people of Afghanistan: one of the world’s most severe and protracted humanitarian emergencies where drought coincides with the collapse of the government and government services, political dislocation, a loss of social freedoms, violations of basic human rights, perversion of the rule of law, dramatic economic instability, and continued violence and terrorism.

The level of human and institutional need is unprecedented.

It is more important than ever that our humanitarian response reaches the most vulnerable, including women, girls, and people with disabilities.

We are gravely concerned about the outlook for women and girls in Afghanistan. Their circumstances continue to deteriorate. Assurances by the Taliban that women and girls would be able to exercise their rights under Islamic law have not been met.

Women are increasingly excluded from public life. We see an increase in early and forced marriages, women prohibited from leaving their homes and travelling without a male guardian, and restrictions on their economic participation.

The Taliban has also broken its international commitment to allow women and girls full access to education. We strongly condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal. We will continue to judge the Taliban by its actions and not its words, and I once more assert that “trust requested is usually met by an expectation that trust is earned.”

Without equal and unrestricted participation of women in political life, public service, social institutions, or economic and commercial activity, Afghanistan cannot take its place in the world as a respected society. Women and girls not only have the capacity to contribute to their own society, but a right to contribute meaningfully to their nation’s future. It is a fundamental human right, and also a fundamental justice.

Today I announce that Australia will commit an additional 40 million Australian dollars in humanitarian assistance. This builds on our earlier commitment of 100 million dollars, announced in September 2021. This assistance will help address Afghanistan’s urgent needs including in food security, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, livelihoods, shelter, and protection.

Australia will not be distracted from supporting Afghanistan by other events, and we will not cease our efforts to preserve the social and economic gains made over the last 20 years for the people of Afghanistan, especially for women and girls.