VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the situation of women in Afghanistan is very worrying. Afghan women still experience restrictions on their right to education and involvement in international forums.

"They continue to experience restrictions due to policies from the Taliban. 80% of school-age girls cannot go to school. Women are also prohibited from working for the UN and international NGOs. This situation will certainly complicate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan which usually involves women," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said while attending the High-level Side Event: Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls, co-hosted by the Irish and Canadian Foreign Ministers and the Women's Forum on Afghanistan, on Tuesday, as quoted from an official statement received by Indonesia Window here on Wednesday (20/9/2023).

To encourage global solidarity for Afghan women, Indonesia contributes by providing educational scholarships for Afghan women.

"So we have provided scholarships, we provide training to Afghan women. Last year, we together with Qatar organized the International Conference on Afghan Women Education (ICAWE) in Bali and this year in November we will again organize the event," the Foreign Minister said.

The Foreign Minister added that the situation of women in Afghanistan is very worrying and UNDP data estimates that restrictions on access to employment for women cause Afghanistan to lose 1 billion USD from its GDP or around 7%.

"Afghanistan is also facing a polio endemic which will also put an additional burden on women," she added. (VOI/Ranov)