Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon chaired her first UN Security Council session under Slovenia's one-month presidency of the UN's top body on 18 September. The session focused on gender discrimination in Afghanistan, with Fajon stressing the importance of speaking up in the face of such oppression.

The international community cannot and will not remain silent in the face of this institutionalised system of gender discrimination, segregation and oppression, Fajon said.

Afghanistan keeps facing numerous social, political, security, economic, climate, development, humanitarian and other human rights challenges, Fajon said before stating the aim to focus on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and their access to education.

The Taliban committed themselves to respect women's rights in 2021, but have since been taking measures that could constitute crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Fajon said.

She underlined that no country could have a successful future without women's full and free participation in social and public life. The Taliban authorities ban girls over the age of 12 from all schools, which will hinder the country's long-term development.

"We do not expect quick solutions. But the international community should not turn a blind eye to the disappearance of Afghan women and girls from public life. The UN must lead by example," Fajon said. She sees the issue of women's rights as a test for the international community.

The Council was briefed by Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the secretary-general for Afghanistan and head of the UN assistance mission in Afghanistan, Sima Sami Bahous, executive director of UN-Women, and an Afghan woman called Mina, a civil society representative who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over.

Same as Fajon, most participants condemned the Taliban's attitude towards women, with the only exceptions being Chinese and Russian ambassadors.

China's ambassador Fu Cong said that focussing on this issue alone would not solve the problem as he advocated a holistic approach to tackle challenges in Afghanistan. He was also critical of the West's sanctions against the Taliban.

Russia's ambassador Vasily Nebenzya agreed, saying that the sanctions were stifling Afghanistan's development and that the Taliban had the right to pass laws they thought were in the interest of their country.

Nebenzya also complained about Mina's appearance at the session and Slovenia's decision to change the format of the meeting without asking for a go-ahead from all Council members. Mina took part via videolink and her face was not shown, which Fajon said was a precautionary measure to ensure her safety.