Item 2: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
Mr. President,
We thank the Special Rapporteur for these two important reports, which document how Afghanistan's human rights crisis has deepened over the past year, as the Taliban have intensified their egregious assault on the rights on women and girls and minority groups. The Taliban have threatened, assaulted and arbitrarily detained women and girls for not abiding by the prescribed dress code. They have also threatened, arbitrarily detained and tortured former security force personnel, journalists, human rights defenders and LGBT people.
The law on propagation of virtue and prevention of vice further entrenched and codified the Taliban's ongoing rights violations, including the crime against humanity of gender persecution, including by prohibiting women from traveling or using public transportation without a male guardian, from singing in public, or simply letting their voices be heard outside their home.
We share the Special Rapporteur's concern that the "international community's failure to hold the Taliban accountable has emboldened them." It is vital that all grave violations, many of which may amount to international crimes, are robustly documented - including through the collection and preservation of evidence and identification of those responsible - to ensure they are ultimately held to account.
In October, this Council agreed by consensus on the need for further concrete action to advance accountability for past and ongoing international crimes in Afghanistan. In line with the Special Rapporteur's recommendations, it should now establish, without further delay, an additional independent and comprehensive accountability mechanism, as complementary, but distinct, to the vital ongoing work of the Special Rapporteur.
We would like to ask the Special Rapporteur, what support do you have in practice, and what more support do you need?
Thank you.
