Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir stated it was unbelievable to see how quickly the Taliban has seized power across Afghanistan in recent weeks. Katrín stated it was clear the development would have an impact on the status of women in the country. As a member of NATO, Iceland must shoulder its responsibility to the international community.
“It’s important that we Icelanders shoulder our responsibility in this both as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and members of the international community and representatives in the UN human rights council,” Katrín stated in an interview with RÚV. “We are all very concerned that there is an impending human rights crisis in Afghanistan.”
Iceland’s Refugee Committee will review the situation in Afghanistan this week, at the request Iceland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Children Ásmundur Einar Daðason. Katrín says it’s especially important to take into account the women that have fought for human rights in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister stated that Iceland would take part in the international discussion on the crisis in Afghanistan, as well as within NATO and the Nordic countries. The government would also consider accepting additional refugees from the country. Iceland’s quota refugees for the years 2020 and 2021 have yet to arrive in the country due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities have stated that the delays will be made up and will not lead to Iceland accepting fewer refugees than planned.
