Spanish FM Says Afghan Women’s Voices Will Always Be Heard

 

Tawazon – Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, has reaffirmed his country’s support for Afghan women, saying their voices will continue to be heard despite efforts by the Taliban to silence them.

Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy in Madrid, Albares said Spain remains committed to standing with Afghan women and supporting their rights.

“This will always be your home,” Albares said. “The voices of Afghan women will always be heard from this ministry, no matter how much the Taliban may criminally seek to silence them.”

Albares said the Spanish Foreign Ministry hosts an annual conference called HearUs, which brings together Afghan women’s organizations and associations in exile to advocate for women’s rights, freedom and gender equality.

He also announced that a space inside Spain’s Foreign Ministry has been designated as the “Hall of Afghan Women”. According to him, the hall serves as a symbol of solidarity and recognition of the resilience and contributions of Afghan women.

The remarks were made during a major international conference in Madrid, where participants discussed women’s rights and gender equality around the world, including the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Afghan women and girls have faced growing restrictions on education, employment, and participation in public life. International officials and rights advocates continue to call for the protection of their fundamental rights.