(Geneva) A Taliban delegation pledged on Thursday to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan, including women, and to promote education, the NGO which invited them to Geneva announced on Friday.
Posted at 1:38 p.m.
The delegation, which is led by the Minister of Health, Qalander Ebad, was invited by the NGO Appel de Genève, which seeks to strengthen the application of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones and which has been active for many years in Afghanistan.
She has been meeting Swiss diplomats and humanitarian organizations since Monday.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IAE) has signed a statement in which it undertakes to “facilitate humanitarian action […] in Afghanistan and to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers,” Geneva Call said in a statement.
The delegation also pledged to “promote […] the protection of health and transport infrastructure as well as their personnel, including women,” according to the press release.
The Taliban have promised to “promote the protection of environmental and cultural heritage” and to “protect all Afghans” by facilitating in particular “the pursuit of their education”, noted the NGO.
This negotiation with the Taliban represents “a step towards reinforced protection of civilians in Afghanistan”, welcomed Geneva Call, without however specifying whether a follow-up of these commitments would be ensured.
On Thursday, the Taliban demanded a direct dialogue with the international community – which does not officially recognize the regime – to provide the humanitarian aid that Afghanistan sorely needs.
They also called on “the international community to support its organizations working under the Humanitarian Charter to provide non-political, neutral and independent assistance to Afghans”.
Swiss diplomacy stressed that this visit “does not constitute a legitimization or recognition” of the Taliban regime.
Since the Taliban took power, after the departure of the American forces that held the government at arm’s length, a terrible economic and financial crisis has threatened more than half of the country’s population with famine.
The UN has been advocating for months for an easing of the sanctions imposed on Kabul since August 2021 to avoid the collapse of the country.
The international community is particularly shocked by the fate of girls and women, reversing progress made 20 years after the Taliban were ousted by the Americans in late 2001.