The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called upon the Taliban, the current rulers of Afghanisan, to show its support for Afghanistan’s peoples' rights. On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the UNAMA highlighted the "significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its real importance for Afghanistan". The theme for global Human Rights Day this year is 'Equality'.

Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan said, "The principles of equality and non-discrimination are paramount for the enjoyment of human rights by all. We call upon the Taliban to make this principle a day-to-day reality in Afghanistan."

Expressing concern over the rights of Afghanistan's people, UNAMA said, "Commitments made by the Taliban to protect the rights of all Afghans have yet to be met. Women and girls in particular have witnessed an erosion of their rights since 15 August 2021.

"Significant efforts are required by the Taliban to actively promote and protect the equal rights of girls and women, in access to education, work, free movement and other aspects of life."

The UN is also deeply concerned by credible reports in recent months of killings, the use of violence against and forced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security services, government and civil society, including protestors, media workers, human rights defenders and minorities, UNAMA said.

The UNAMA also called on the Taliban to probe all these matters and make its results public.

"UNAMA urges the Taliban to investigate and make public their findings on these matters, as well as to demonstrate a commitment to upholding the rights of all Afghans by taking all possible measures to prevent the commission of such crimes," the statement read.

The United Nations also encourages the fulfillment of Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations as set out in the UN core international human rights treaties, laying the foundations for the universality of equality, justice and human dignity for all, the UNAMA added.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund donors today agreed to provide $280 million to UNICEF and the World Food Program by the end of December to address humanitarian issues.

"The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) donors today decided to transfer out $280 million in ARTF funds by the end of December 2021 to UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP)," the World Bank said in a press release on Friday. UNICEF will receive $100 million to provide essential health services in Afghanistan, and WFP will receive $180 million to bolster up food security and nutrition operations in the country, it said. (SAM)