News Center-In a statement on Saturday, the Purple Saturdays’ Movement, an advocacy group focused on women’s rights and empowerment in Afghanistan, called on Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to step down from her position.

“Afghan women no longer support her work in the country and demand that she leave her post as soon as possible,” the statement said, stressing that Afghanistan women are prepared to take charge of the initiatives that UNAMA currently oversees.

Roza Otunbayeva’s presence is no longer aligned with Afghan women’s interests or aspirations, the movement underlined, accusing Roza Otunbayeva of failing to fulfill UNAMA’s mandate to protect human rights, particularly women’s rights.

“If you truly have a clear conscience, please vacate the UNAMA post in Afghanistan. Otherwise, we will intensify our efforts to hold you accountable through legal channels at the international level.

“Instead of opposing the blatant violations of human rights, UNAMA’s conciliatory stance has normalized relations with the Taliban, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars under the guise of humanitarian aid, and neglected Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crises.”

Highlighting that Afghanistan women no longer want external actors to determine their future without their direct involvement, the movement said, “If UNAMA continues to support the Taliban under the pretense of engagement, we will submit an official petition to the UN Secretary-General, demanding the non-renewal of UNAMA’s mandate and the closure of its offices in Afghanistan.

The movement also called on international human rights organizations to put pressure on the UN to fulfill its responsibility to uphold human rights standards in Afghanistan.

At the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Roza Otunbayeva said, “Isolation is not the solution, and we must continue to engage to build trust for the benefit of the Afghan people. Across Afghanistan, many people tell us that they want us to engage more with the de facto authorities and to help them to engage more.”