UK Parliament Raises Alarm Over Afghan Women’s Rights Crisis

British lawmakers raised the issue of Afghanistan and Afghan women during a parliamentary session.

They described the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan as one of the most severe crises in women’s rights and expressed deep concern.

The MPs emphasized the continuation of humanitarian aid and called for avoiding normalization of relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Alice McDonald, a member of the UK Parliament, stated: “We must keep our attention on what is happening in Afghanistan. As I’ve said, women have told me they feel forgotten and that the world has turned its back on them. We must do everything we can to show that this is not the case.”

Wendy Chamberlain, another MP, said: “I also commend the work of the Linda Norgrove Foundation, which has supported 19 Afghan female medical students who were brought to study at universities in Scotland. This was a pioneering collaboration between the UK and Scottish governments, both in funding their education and facilitating visa arrangements.”

The UK’s Deputy Foreign Minister also reiterated the country’s commitment to supporting Afghan women, noting that Britain is working to encourage the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to revise their policies.
Hamish Falconer stated that British officials consistently raise women’s issues during their visits to Kabul.

He said: “The UK will continue to support the rights of Afghan women and girls and will keep urging the Taliban to change their harsh directives. As the Foreign Secretary has said: Peace, security, and prosperity cannot be achieved without the participation of women, free from violence and fear.”

Falconer also noted that the UK has allocated over £150 million for life-saving assistance to Afghanistan, with at least half of the beneficiaries being women and girls.

He added: “We’ve allocated more than £150 million this financial year for life-saving aid to Afghanistan, ensuring that at least half of beneficiaries are women and girls.”

The Islamic Emirate has not commented on the remarks made in the UK Parliament, though it has repeatedly maintained that women’s rights are ensured within the framework of Islamic law in the country.