Nahan Urges New UN Envoy to Prioritize Afghan Women’s Voices

DID Press: Former Afghanistan Minister of Mines Nargis Nehan has called on the new head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Rababa Fatima, to adopt a stronger approach focused on women’s rights and inclusive dialogue in Afghanistan.

Nehan welcomed Rababa Fatima’s appointment as the UN’s new representative for Afghanistan but criticized previous approaches and urged a shift in the international body’s engagement strategy.

She said the United Nations should define the “fundamental rights of women” not as a secondary issue but as a central pillar of its engagement with Afghanistan.

The former minister warned that if justice and the rights of half of Afghanistan’s population are sacrificed amid political negotiations, the UN will not be able to achieve its humanitarian and development goals in the country.

Nehan emphasized that justice in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without the active participation and protection of women’s dignity, calling for a broader and more inclusive national dialogue.

She also urged the new UN envoy to move beyond limited political discussions and engage with all sectors of Afghan society, particularly women and civil society activists, to support a genuine national process.