Statements are not sufficient, Taliban must guarantee rights of Afghan women: Malala

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Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai Friday said that statements are not going to be sufficient and that the Taliban must guarantee and protect the rights of all women and girls in Afghanistan, including their right to education. 

Addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, Malala highlighted the issue of education for women and girls within the war-torn country. 

Malala said that international human rights laws guarantee education rights for women. She said the right to education is not only for individuals.

Girls, she said, need education for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. 

Malala asked the UN to ensure the protection of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. She added that the UN must remember its commitment to protecting the dignity of the human person. 

Discussing the status of schools in Afghanistan, Malala told the UNSC that secondary schools have shut and teachers and students have been told to wait at home. 

She added that female teachers no longer have jobs because they are not allowed to teach boys. 

Calling on the UN, Malala asked for a robust monitoring system to be put in place so human rights abuses can be tracked in Afghanistan, especially regarding girl's education. 

Malala further asked for a significant increase in humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan so schools can open and operate safely. 

She added that additional assistance should be given to Afghanistan's neighbours so the education of refugee children can be ensured. 

UN presence in all areas of Afghanistan is needed more than ever, Malala said. 

She urged for the UNSC to stand with the girls and women in Afghanistan.