Doha – Through Doha Forum 2023, the Government of Indonesia encourages Taliban to reopen formal learning opportunities for Afghan women. Indonesia also opens up the possibility to conduct the dialogue and contribution regarding women education based on Islamic teachings, both in marsah, upper education, tertiary institutions and community based learning.
“Indonesia’s modalities in woman education could be a consideration for the Taliban authorities, notably to maintain the quality of life and woman’s dignity in accordance to Islamic teachings,” said Senior Advisor of the Executive Staff of the President, Prof. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin at Doha Forum 2023, in Doha, Monday (11/12).
It is known that UNICEF, a United Nations organization that focuses on the well-being of the children, reported in its March 2023 release that about 2.2 million Afghan womens are no longer attending school after the Taliban ban it. UNICEF sees the Taliban’s ban as exacerbating the already high gender gap in terms of education.
Through the Afghan-Indonesia Solidarity Network led by the Indonesian foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, Ruhaini said, Indonesia is working with Qatar, the United States, and the other countries to encourage the Taliban to meet the standards of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN). “Principally reopening the opportunities to learn for girls,” she added.
According to Ruhaini, accomplishing a stable, safe and prosperous future for Afghanistan is a commitment of President Joko Widodo. In addition to Indonesia and Afghanistan being members of the Organizations of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the commitment also implements the mandate of the Indonesian constitution to maintain world peace.
At the Doha Forum 2023, Ruhaini said, Indonesia emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue between Taliban and other parties to end continuous conflict, and find common ground to form a strong, dignified and unifying nation in the middle of diversity. “The future of Afghanistan remains a commitment for Indonesia amid Indonesia’s active role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Palestine,” Ruhaini conveyed.
Ruhaini as Special Advisor of the President for International Religious Affairs periods 2018-2019 also believes that Indonesia’s voice will be heard and will be of interest to the Taliban. Moreover, Indonesia has shown its role during the Chairmanship of G20 and ASEAN, also as the UN Security Council membership (2019-2020) and the UN Human Rights Council membership (2024-2026). “Including in this very important and prestigious Doha Forum,” she added.
The Doha Forum 2023 is an annual forum initiated by the Government of Qatar. The forum, which was attended by the UN Secretary-General, HE Antonio Guterres, Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Experts, Intellectuals and world activists, is a forum for diplomacy dialogue and diversity to build a more peaceful, just and prosperous world.
“Indonesian delegations are mainly represented by the woman professor. They are as the figure of the progress Moslem woman,” Ruhaini concluded.
