Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio was on Tuesday due to chair a meeting in New York on how to safeguard Afghan women and girls, especially their right to education, following last month's Taliban takeover.
The virtual meeting, 'Safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of International Engagement in Afghanistan: How to continue supporting the future of Afghan Women and Girls and their Access to Education', is taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The event has been organised by several countries including Italy, as well as UN Women and UNICEF.
The meeting's main focus is on the condition of women and girls following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan last month. Its objective is to preserve the gains made over the past 20 years in women's rights and equality between the sexes.