Foreign Minister: Don't Let Politics Bar Solidarity with Women in Afghanistan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that politics should not hinder the solidarity with Afghanistan women and girls who currently face systemic oppression by the fundamentalist group Taliban. The statement was delivered while attending the High-Level Event on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. The event was initiated by Indonesia along with Ireland, Canada, and the Women's Forum.

"Don't let politics hinder our solidarity to create peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. Humanity places above politics," she said in a press release.

During her speech in front of world leaders, Minister Retno stated that solidarity with women and girls in Afghanistan means empathy and concrete actions. Further, she stressed that the situation for Afghan women and girls is dire. "Should we let politics prevent us from aiding Afghanistan? Or shall we lend our hand anyway despite the political situation?" she remarked.

Relating to the situation in Afghanistan, Indonesia plans to contribute through three measures. These measures are humanitarian aid, sharing good practices with Afghan Islamic scholars, and educational assistance.

Cooperating with UNICEF, Indonesia will distribute ten million doses of polio vaccines as part of its humanitarian aid.

In addition, Retno said, Indonesia will gladly share good practices with the Islamic scholars in Afghanistan regarding the right to education for women and girls. Indonesian Islamic scholars will reportedly join the delegations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on a visit to Afghanistan.

Retno also ensured that Indonesia will provide scholarships and training for Afghan women. Previously in 2022, the Indonesian government collaborated with Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia to provide scholarships for Afghanistan nationals.

At the end of 2022, Indonesia and Qatar also held the  International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education (ICAWE) di Bali, an education and training event to gather a large sum of funding to support Afghan women. The conference will be held again this year in November. 

"We do all of this because we want to see Afghanistan in peace and prosperous," Retno added in her speech.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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