Talking About the Issue of Afghan Women and Children at UN Headquarters, Foreign Minister Retno: Solidarity Means Empathy and Real Support

Foreign Minister Retno while attending the High-Level Event on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls at the United Nations Headquarters. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said politics should not hinder peace in Afghanistan, highlighting the plight of women and children in the country, while attending a UN meeting on Tuesday.

"Politics should not hinder our solidarity to create peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. Because above politics, there is still humanity," said Foreign Minister Retno, while attending the High-Level Event on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls meeting at Headquarters UN Headquarters in New York, United States, in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday, September 20.

"We are all here for one purpose, namely to show our solidarity for Afghan women and girls. Solidarity means empathy and real support," stressed Foreign Minister Retno.

Foreign Minister Retno further explained that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is very worrying.

"Are we going to let politics prevent us from helping Afghanistan? Or are we going to lend a hand, whatever the political conditions?" asked Foreign Minister Retno.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Indonesia believes the second option is the more appropriate choice. That is why Indonesia contributes to Afghanistan in three ways.

First, providing humanitarian assistance in the form of sending 10 million doses of polio vaccine to Afghanistan, in collaboration with UNICEF.

Next, continued Foreign Minister Retno, sharing experiences with Afghan clerics. She said, as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia shared experiences of the importance of education for women, one of which was through the clerics' visit program to Afghanistan organized by the OIC.

"Third, providing education and training for women. Last year, Indonesia and Qatar held the International Conference on Afghan Women's Education (ICAWE) in Bali. The second conference will be held in November this year," stressed Foreign Minister Retno.

It is known that the High-Level Event on Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls is a side event in the series of the UN General Assembly Session in New York which was organized by Indonesia together with Ireland, Canada, and the Women's Forum.