UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : Human Rights Council- 31st Special session - Afghanistan

I now have the honour to give the floor to Miss Michelle Bachelet, **** Commissioner for Human Rights, to make a statement.

Madam **** Commissioner, you have the floor.

Madam President, Excellencies, colleagues and friends, at this critical moment the people of Afghanistan look to the Human Rights Council to defend and protect their rights.

They need to prevent the Commission of human rights abuses of even greater magnitude and scope.

Make this an essential meeting.

The rapid seizure of much of the country, including the capital, by the Taliban has raised grave fears of a return to pass patterns of human rights violations and stoke desperation among many Afghans.

In recent weeks, my office has received harrowing and credible reports of the impact on civilians of violations of international humanitarian law, as well as violations and abuses of human rights by the parties to the conflict.

Unanimous Protection of Civilians report from 1st of January to 30 of June this year already indicated an increase in civilian casualties of nearly 50% compared to the same.

In 2020.

Unquestionably, that toll further increased over the month of July and August in particular.

We have also received credible reports of serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses taking place in many areas under effective Taliban control.

They include, amongst summary executions of civilians and all the combat members of the Afghan National Security Forces, restrictions on the right of women, including the right to move around freely and girls, right to attend school, recruitment of child soldiers, and repression of peaceful protests and expression of dissent.

Many people now fear reprisals by the Taliban against those working with the government or the international community, people who have worked to advance human rights and justice, or those whose lifestyles and opinions are simply perceived to be opposed to the Taliban ideology.

There are great fears for women, for journalists, and for the new generation of civil society leaders who have emerged in the past years.

Afghanistan's diverse ethnic and religious minorities are also at risk of violence and repression, given previous patterns of serious violations under Taliban rule and reports of killings and targeted attacks in recent months.

The harrowing humanitarian situation, aggravated by sustained drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant shortfalls in enabling economic, social and cultural rights, has further deepened with recent events.

A month ago, SRSD Deborah Alliance indicated that 18,000,000 Afghans were facing a dire humanitarian situation.

This was double the number in July 2020, amounting to 1/2 the people in the country, and it is set to increase.

UNHCR has estimated that an additional 270,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and livelihoods since January 2021, bringing the total displaced population to more than 3.5 million.

We can expect that significant numbers of people will seek refuge in neighbouring countries or outside the region.

the United Nations is committed to stay and deliver A to those in greatest need to support efforts to restore peace and stability and to promote the rights and dignity of all Afghans with fundamental human rights in the balance.

My Office will be working urgently to reinstate arrangements for monitoring human rights violation.

Madam President, in statement over the recent week weeks, the Taliban has pledged to respect and protect human right.

Taliban spokespeople have made specific commitment to respect women's right to work and girls right to attend school within the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law.

They have also said they will respect the rights of members of ethnic and religious minorities and refrain from reprisals against those who have worked with the government or the international community.

The onus is now fully on the Taliban to translate this commitment into reality.

In seizing effective control of much of the country, they must ensure in those areas ongoing respect for the international human rights commitment made by the state, as well as ensuring ongoing and indeed heightened provision of essential public services without discrimination to all.

International human rights law is immutable.

Enjoyment of human rights is not subject to changes in control of tutoritory or de facto authority.

Moreover, significant advances in human rights over the past two decades have given the people of Afghanistan a strong stake in society that values and defends human rights.

Civil society organisations have flourished across the country.

Women have assumed public roles and leadership positions in the media and across society.

In 2020, 127% of members of parliament and 1/5 of civil servants were women.

Some 3.5 million girls were attending school, compared to 1999 where no girl could attend secondary school and only 9000 were enrolled in primaries.

Education.

Human rights defenders have contributed to the economic, political and social development of their communities.

Across the country, a courageous and independent national human rights institution has played a frontline role.

A plurality of voices have been reflected in the flourishing and diverse media.

Youth movements across the country have empowered young women and men from diverse ethnic and religious communities.

A generation of young people has grown up with hope for a further future and the knowledge of free individual choice, while also being deeply attacked attached to Afghanistan's cultural and religion traditions.

These significant advances in human rights have altered mindsets and changed realities.

They will not easily be erased.

They are also essential to Afghanistan's future trajectory.

For the development and prosperity of any country to be sustainable, people need to live without fear, without discrimination, without repression and with full respect of their human rights.

Moreover, human rights violations undermine the legitimacy of the perpetrators, both vis A vis the people and also with respect to regional and international institutions and other states.

I strongly urge the Taliban to adopt norms of responsive governance and human rights and to work to re establish social cohesion and reconciliation, including through respect for the rights of all who have suffered during the decades of conflict.

A fundamental red line will be the Taliban's treatment of women and girls and respect for their rights to liberty, freedom of movement, education, self-expression and employment guided by international human right norms.

In particular, ensuring access to quality secondary education for girls will be an essential indicators of commitment to human rights.

Government must remain inclusive with meaningful participation of women and representation of Afghanistan's diverse communities to help in beginning to build confidence and ensure future in which all have an equal stake.

There should be genuine, inclusive dialogue, including women and including members of Afghanistan's diverse ethnic and religious communities, in order to address the underlying problems that the country faces, the root causes of indiscrimination and the enduring legacies of decades of conflict.

There should be no reprisals and no sanctions against the thousands of human rights defenders who have contributed to their people's well-being and rights.

The mandates, operation and independence of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission should be respected.

I also urge Open Access for humanitarian assistance and the protection of all humanitarian personnel.

Madam President, I call on all states to create safe pathways for Afghan refugees and migrants, broaden asylum and resettlement programmes and immediately halt the deportation of Afghans who seek protection.

Neighbouring countries will need additional financial and logistical resources to assist refugees, and all states must be mindful of their obligation to give protection and assistance to those fleeing danger.

I also asked States to use their influence with the Taliban to encourage respect for all human rights for all.

Islamic majority countries in particular could share their successful experiences of implementing international human rights norms in their cultural and religious context.

I urge this Council to take bold and vigorous action commensurate with the gravity of this crisis by establishing A dedicated mechanism to closely monitor the evolving human rights situation in Afghanistan, including in particular the Taliban's implementation of its promises with a focus on prevention.

I further note that given the urgency of this situation, an update by my office at the coming September session may be necessary.

I'm also willing to update the Council intercessionally on an urgent basis in the coming months.

United and unique Kibo calc action by member states will be an important signal to the Taliban that a return to past practises will not find acceptance in the international community, neither now nor in the future.

The Afghan people have come too far for such an outcome to ever be tolerable.

Thank you, Madam President.

Human Rights Council- 31st Special session - Afghanistan - Speech of HC Michelle Bachelet