The United Nations is ready to take the “heartbreaking” decision to pull out of Afghanistan in May if it can’t persuade the Taliban to let local women work for the organization, the head of the U.N. Development Program said.
U.N. officials are negotiating with the Afghan government in the hope that it will make exceptions to an edict this month barring local women from U.N. work, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press.
It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and reevaluating its ability to operate there,” Mr. Steiner said. “But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights.”
The UNDP said on April 18 that it “reaffirms its long-standing commitment to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan.” Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said that the United Nations continues “to push back on this counterproductive, to say the least, edict by the authorities.”
It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and reevaluating its ability to operate there,” Mr. Steiner said. “But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights.”
The UNDP said on April 18 that it “reaffirms its long-standing commitment to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan.” Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said that the United Nations continues “to push back on this counterproductive, to say the least, edict by the authorities.”