VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta:  Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is very worrying. So, she said that the latest political situation should not hinder solidarity to create peace and prosperity in the country.

"Politics should not hinder our solidarity to create peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. Because above politics, there is humanity," Retno said at the High-Level Event on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls at UN Headquarters in New York, United States, Tuesday (19/9/2023) as quoted from an official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received by Voice of  here on Wednesday (20/9/2023).

Retno said that all participants were at this meeting to show solidarity for Afghan women and girls. According to her, solidarity means empathy and real support.

"Are we going to let politics prevent us from helping Afghanistan? Or will we lend a helping hand, regardless of the political conditions?" she asked.

In this case, Retno added, Indonesia contributes to Afghanistan in several programs. For example, Indonesia has sent 10 million doses of polio vaccine to Afghanistan in cooperation with UNICEF.

Indonesia, she added, also tries to share experiences with Afghan scholars. As the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia shares experiences on the importance of education for women. One of them is through the cleric visit program to Afghanistan organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Retno also said that Indonesia and Qatar organized the International Conference on Afghan Women and Girls (ICAWE) in Bali. The conference was held for the first time last year, and the second one is planned to be held in November this year. She invited the meeting participants to attend this conference.

The high-level meeting was a side event of the UN General Assembly session in New York. The meeting was organized by Indonesia together with Ireland, Canada and the Women's Forum. (VOI/Rama)