HRC57- EU Introductory Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan

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HRC57- EU Introductory Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan

10.10.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UN Human Rights Council

57^th session - Item 2

Resolution L.24 - Introduction

Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan

EU Introductory Statement

Mr President,

I have the honour to present, on behalf of the European Union, draft resolution L.24 entitled "Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan".

As the Special Rapporteur put it, "having reached the crossroads, the Taliban appear to have taken a direction that only leads back to the appalling conditions of the late 1990s".

The recent so-called morality law marks a new phase in the ongoing regression in the respect for human rights, in particular for women and girls. To paraphrase the High Commissioner: "[the Taliban]'s repressive control over half the population in the country is unparalleled in today's world. Their actions may amount to gender persecution.

Furthermore, persons belonging to minorities, persons in vulnerable situations including LGBTI persons, human rights defenders and media workers, former government officials and former members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces continue to face human rights violations and abuses, often compounded by intersectionality.

A key factor underlying these and other violations is the persistent lack of accountability. We therefore welcome initiatives to hold Afghanistan accountable, including under CEDAW.

Instead of abiding by Afghanistan's international obligations, the Taliban opt to disengage on human rights, as was made clear through the recent ban of the Special Rapporteur from accessing the territory of Afghanistan. Their attack on human rights, be it civil and political or economic, social and cultural ones, continues, and the human rights situation in Afghanistan keeps spiraling downwards, as poverty and the impacts of repression and violence are exacerbated by natural disasters and climate change.

Mr President,

We have tabled draft L. 24 to address this human rights crisis, and to call upon the Taliban to reverse policies and practices that violate and abuse human rights of people in Afghanistan.

If adopted, draft L.24 will extend and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and mandate further reporting to guide the action of the international community. Moreover, it will underscore important principles on accountability laid out by the recent OHCHR report.