“No way” for the Afghan economy to recover if women are stranded, says UN chief

The UN chief said on Monday that Afghanistan was facing a “turning point”, urging the world to help stop the country’s looming economic collapse.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, acknowledging that women play a major role in the economy, called on the Taliban to respect their assurances that women will be allowed to work and receive an education.

Most of the Afghan economy, around 80 percent, is informal, according to Guterres, who said that “without them [women] there is no chance that the Afghan economy and society will recover. “

“Right now, with assets frozen and development aid suspended, the economy is collapsing,” Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. “Banks are closing and essential services, such as health care, have been suspended in many places.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at high-level meeting on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 22.
John Angelillo / Pool Photo via AP

For more Associated Press reporting, see below.

He said the UN is urgently calling on countries to pump money into the Afghan economy, which before the Taliban takeover in August depended on international aid which accounted for 75 percent of the country’s spending. ‘State. The country is grappling with a liquidity crisis as assets remain frozen in the United States and other countries, and disbursements from international organizations have been suspended.

The UN chief said injecting cash to prevent Afghanistan’s economic collapse is a separate issue from recognizing the Taliban, lifting sanctions, thawing frozen assets or restoring the international aid.

Guterres said money can be pumped into the Afghan economy “without violating international laws or compromising principles.” He said this could be done through United Nations agencies and a trust fund managed by the United Nations Development Program as well as non-governmental organizations operating in the country. He added that the World Bank can also create a trust fund.

The leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies, the G-20, hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the complex issues surrounding Afghanistan. On the issue of “injecting liquidity into the Afghan economy,” Guterres said, “I think the international community is moving too slowly.”

The Taliban invaded most of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years. They entered the capital, Kabul, on August 15 without any resistance from the Afghan army or the country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, who fled.

Guterres highlighted the Taliban’s promises since taking power to protect the rights of women, children, minority communities and former government employees, especially the ability for women to work and girls to have the same education. than boys.

“I am particularly alarmed to see the promises made to Afghan women and girls by the Taliban to be broken,” he said, stressing that “their ability to learn, to work, to own property and to live with rights and dignity will define progress “.

However, Guterres said that “the Afghan people cannot face collective punishment because the Taliban misbehaves.”

He said the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was worsening, affecting at least 18 million people, or half of the country’s population.

Guterres said the UN commits the Taliban every day to the safety and security of its personnel, unimpeded humanitarian access to all Afghans in need and human rights, especially for women and girls. “Gender equality has always been a top priority for me,” he said.

While humanitarian aid saves lives, it will not solve the country’s crisis unless an economic collapse is avoided, Guterres said.

“Obviously, the main responsibility for finding a way out of the abyss lies with those who are now in charge in Afghanistan,” he said.

Nonetheless, he warned, “if we do not act to help the Afghans weather this storm, and do it quickly, not only them, but the whole world will pay a heavy price.

Hazaras Women
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that without women, “there is no way the Afghan economy and society will recover.” Above, a Hazara woman and children walk through a village where people still live as they did centuries ago in Bamiyan on October 3.
BULENT KILIC / Getty Images

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