United Nations, Oct 21 (TIWN) A UN official has urged the international community to use aid as leverage to promote women's rights in Afghanistan, which have further deteriorated following the fall of the country to the Taliban in August.

"We need the international community to ensure that any aid that they give to Afghanistan is also tied to robust commitments on women's rights and gender equality," said Alison Davidian, deputy country representative of UN Women in Afghanistan.  "We also need them to ensure that humanitarian aid keeps flowing and that there are commitments in place to ensure that it reaches both men and women," she told a UN Women online event held on the eve of a Security Council open debate on women, peace and security.  Davidian asked the international community to issue strong joint statements that show the "collective mass of voices" encouraging the Taliban to adhere to key women's rights and human rights principles.  Davidian asked for those who have the means to donate to women's civil society organizations that are working on the ground every day to make the lives of women and girls better in Afghanistan.