Meryl Streep backs UN call to free Afghan women from Taliban oppression

American actress Meryl Streep has spoken out against the Taliban’s oppression of Afghan women at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The international community must act vigorously to end the oppression of Afghan women by the Taliban, who have lost even their most basic rights.”urged Afghan women in exile on Monday, with the strong support of Meryl Streep.

“A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today because public parks have been closed to women and girls by the Taliban”denounced the American actress during a discussion in a meeting “at high level” of the United Nations General Assembly.

“A bird can sing in Kabul, but not a girl, and a woman cannot sing in public”continued Meryl Streep, who came to present a short version of a new documentary film The Sharp Edge of Peace, which chronicles the participation of four Afghan women leaders in the Doha talks on the future of Afghanistan, before the Taliban took power.

“I believe that if the international community came together, it could bring about change in Afghanistan, and end the slow suffocation of half the population.”she said.

At the end of the debate, Asila Wardak, one of the leaders of the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan, stressed that the presence of Afghan women at the United Nations was a way of “to remind once again the international community, and world leaders, that this fight is not just an Afghan fight.”

“This is a global fight against extremism”she said, believing that if nothing is done, it will spread “to neighboring countries and also to the world”. “It is therefore a common responsibility”she said. She also stressed the importance of men’s support for women’s rights.

Talking about the situation of Afghan women this week in New York is “a small sign of hope” for these women, noted Fawzia Koofi, an elected member of the former parliament of Kabul. “But it’s not enough”she added, urging the mandate of a “special envoy” United Nations to put pressure on the Taliban.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled that discrimination against women also caused deep damage to the country. “Women’s participation and leadership have demonstrated benefits for peace and security, social protection, environmental stability and much more”he stressed. “Afghanistan faces serious challenges in all these areas.”