I participated in Techfest World MUN in December 2021, when I was in the 11th grade. It was an online MUN and I prepared at for the same. I was allotted a place in the UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and the agenda was 'The situation of women in Afghanistan'.

The UN Women Committee:

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.

UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities:

• Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems
• Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy
• All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence
• Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action.

UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system's work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more inclusive world.

The UN Women Committee's Agenda:

Human rights is the privilege that every individual possesses, and these rights are inherited by every being, irrespective of their nationality, religious beliefs, sex or colour. In spite of these rights being quintessential for people all around the world, quite often people are deprived of them in many scenarios.

The current situation in Afghanistan is devastating post the recent switch in power from the previously existing Afghan government, causing uncertainty amongst the citizens and furthermore leading to a political turmoil. The rate of violence, crimes and human rights violations in Afghanistan has increased from a pre-existing staggering level. The pandemic (Covid-19) has added to the uncertainty and put the people of Afghanistan in distress. Many require humanitarian aid and assistance, and around 50% of those in need of such assistance are women and girls.

The present situation in Afghanistan for the safety of women and girls is highly concerning. Of all the violence caused, women and children are affected the most and sum upto half of the civilian fatalities. Women face increasing levels of domestic violence and are severely exploited. Several restrictions are imposed on them and they are not given their basic human rights. Even in the 21st century, there is not a functioning system that ensures the safety and protection of women and girls in Afghanistan. As of August 2021, the international humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan is only 38 percent funded. This is a huge shortfall, and would indicate that millions of children would lose expertise protection functions, making them habitable to violence, child labor, forced child marriages and sexual exploitation. Around 1.4 million women, most of them who have survived immense violence and torture, will be left without a safe place for themselves and have little to no support. Women and children continue to struggle and are deprived of basic human rights because of which Afghanistan is ranked as one of the least favourable nations on the Gender Equality Index. Since recently, when the Taliban took control over Afghanistan, it has been a setback for the women and girls. Day after day, something new is revealed that proves that women rights are being pressed. It has been a massive rollback for the basic needs and rights of women since the Taliban has regained their authority. Over the last 20 years there have been signs of improvement in the field of education for girls however, the last few months have been a disaster. Certain reports show that around 1 million children will miss out on a chance to be educated. The atrocities are so much that girls are being prohibited from secondary education and female teachers are not allowed to step into school and teach. Since half of Afghanistan's population comprises women and girls, it makes Afghanistan the only country on the planet to ban half of its population from getting a secondary education. In spite of so many harsh restrictions prevailing, the Taliban is tightening restrictions on women and children. The ones who are raising their voice and protesting against this are facing severe repercussions.

Certificate of Participation