UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan\u2019s Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n
The 11-page resolution also emphasizes \u201cthe importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,\u201d and urges donors to address the country\u2019s dire humanitarian and economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favor, with two \u2014 the United States and close ally Israel \u2014 opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran.<\/p>\n
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures,<\/a> banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban’s government.<\/a><\/p>\n Germany\u2019s U.N. Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban\u2019s \u201cnear-total erasure\u201d<\/a> of the rights of women and girls. <\/p>\n The core message of the resolution, she said, is to tell Afghan mothers holding sick and underfed children or mourning victims of terrorist attacks, as well as the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home, that they have not been forgotten. <\/p>\n U.S. minister-counselor Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards \u201cthe Taliban’s failure with more engagement and more resources.” He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies “in accordance with the expectations of the international community.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cFor decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n