Issued by Spokeperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Occasion of Women's Day

WOMEN'S DAY: THE ISLAMIC STATE OF AFGHANISTAN WELCOMES THE MOVE TO DEDICATE FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON MARCH 8 TO AFGHAN WOMEN AND ENSURES THEM LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY.

Mazar-l-Sharif, 3 March 1998

Press release

The government of the Islamic state of Afghanistan would like to state that upon the end od the Taliban military occupation of kabul, women's right wil be fully restored and that women and girl of Kabul will enjoy rights based on Islamic percept and relevant international instruments dealing with women's rights, setting a precedence for a rest of the country.

The observations of Dr. Choong Huyn Paik, Special rapporteur of the Commission on Human rights, toward the issue of women's rights in Afghanistan, especially welfare of the Woman of Kabul, is the best reference in illuminating the contrast between the behavior of the Government and the Taliban group in their approach to women's rights. Dr. Paik has been involved in Afghan affairs since 1994 and since conducted bilateral talks and inquiries with both officials of the Islamic State of Afghanistan and representative of the Taliban, and also many Afghan women. His observations draw a conclusion that the world must know.