Female leaders call for women’s rights and equal opportunities to be upheld in Afghanistan

Women heads of state and government sent out a joint call to current and future power holders in Afghanistan to refrain from violence against women and girls and to uphold and ensure equal rights and participation of women in public life. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, and Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia, initiated the call.

Čaputová and Jakobsdóttir were joined by the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė, the President of Moldova Maia Sandu, the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg and the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

“We are deeply concerned about the current developments in Afghanistan, including the multiple reports on violations of the rights of girls and women in many parts of the country. We call on current and future power holders in Afghanistan to respect the rights of women and girls, and to refrain from any steps that would impede their rights in areas such as employment, education, access to healthcare, culture or public office. We especially call on the authorities in Afghanistan to prevent every form of violence towards women and girls. Irrespective of our differences, men and women are equal and their rights are inalienable and incontestable. We, women leaders, want to reassure Afghan women and girls that we will closely follow the developments in their country, listen to their voices, and continue to support their rights and opportunities.”