United Nations Human Rights Council

54th session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan

11 September 2023

EU Statement

Mr. President, 

The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update and work. 

No one can doubt the systematic character of the Taliban’s oppression of women and girls anymore, as new edicts, policies and practices increase the stranglehold put on half of Afghanistan’s population. 

We raise our concern that, in Afghanistan, persecutions on the grounds of gender, ethnicity and religion may be occuring - crimes against humanity defined in the Rome Statute, to which Afghanistan is a party.

The ban on Afghan women from working for the UN and NGOs severely impacts the effective delivery of life-saving assistance and basic services, putting at risk the lives of millions of Afghans, especially women-headed households, and worsening the humanitarian situation.

We urge the Taliban to cease their ongoing human rights violations and abuses, safeguard the rights of all Afghan people, and restore civic space, allowing NGOs, journalists and media workers to operate freely.

An inclusive political process, with full, equal and meaningful participation of all Afghans, including women and girls and persons belonging to ethnic and religious groups and minorities, and including LGBTI persons, is required to ensure sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Special Rapporteur,

What are the main avenues for accountability for the human rights violations and abuses you have documented?

Thank you.