"My name is Retno Marsudi. I am a woman, a mother, a grandmother, and a Muslim. However, I have the freedom and equality to get anything, including being in this forum," the minister stated in her opening speech at the forum titled "The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan."
However, she questioned the reason being Afghanistan's women not being able to access similar rights.
The minister also raised the issue of the worrisome conditions they are facing.
"They have to face setbacks in education, employment, and social freedom. According to UNESCO, at least 1.4 million women are prohibited from accessing secondary education in 2024," she pointed out.
According to the minister, Indonesia has expressed its commitment to supporting the struggle of Afghanistan's women, including through the International Conference on Education for Afghanistan Women in Bali in December 2022.
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Marsudi highlighted that Indonesia also believes in the importance of upholding the peace process led and proposed by Afghanistan for long-term peace.
Concluding her speech, the minister called on the global community to help echo the voices of Afghanistan's women.
On the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA), Marsudi attended this forum to encourage the involvement and fulfillment of women's rights and the peace process in Afghanistan.
Indonesia hosted the forum with Ireland, Qatar, and Switzerland, as well as the Women's Forum on Afghanistan.
The panel forum was also attended by several female figures, including Hollywood actress Meryl Streep, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
On September 22-28, 2024, representatives of United Nations member countries gather at the UN Headquarters in New York to attend the High-Level Week of the 79th Session of the UNGA.
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Translator: Suwanti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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