55th Session of the Human Rights Council: Human Rights in Afghanistan

12th March, 2024

V Sivasankar

Team UN Geneva Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

On Tuesday Morning, an NGO, Interfaith International, hosted a side event to discuss Human Rights in Afghanistan at the Palais de Nations in Geneva. With delegations of countries like Belgium, Costa Rica, Australia and the former government of Afghanistan in attendance, the event began with an introduction and overview of the ongoing situation in the country. Marking International Women’s Day on March 8th, special attention was paid to the women of Afghanistan who continue to protest the oppressive rule of the Taliban.

Dr. F Samadi, a woman human rights defender from afghanistan poignantly stated that “our women and girls have been waiting for action from the international community for over 3 years”. Particularly, her argument that weak governance and the lack of access to education has exacerbated the grave situation that women face in the country for many years, is shared by UN Experts. They believe that the situation for women and girls has receded as far back to what it was before 2002 when the Taliban last had control of the country (UN OHCHR, 2023). Additionally, underscoring the complexity of this issue, Dr. Samadi recalled a statement made by former Pakistani PM Imran Khan who stated in 2021 that “not educating girls is part of Afghan culture” (Zompa, 2021). She argued that in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, education is used as a political tool against women and children by extremists. Considering that Pakistan has taken in millions of Afghan refugees, this was particularly relevant.

Fellow panellist Fazal Rehman Afridi echoed her concerns adding that the mass deportation of Afghan Refugees is a grave concern and violation of human rights. Additionally, the arbitrary detention and torture of these refugees exacerbates their already dire situation and violates their integrity as individuals and asylum seekers. Pakistan is not a signatory of the Geneva Convention and the deportation of 1.7 million afghan refugees is a reminder of this. Nevertheless, quoting Article 14(1) of the UDHR, he stated that “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution”, a law that Pakistan is actively violating (Universal declaration of human rights).

Next, panellist Chris Blackburn, Co founder of Global Friends of Afghanistan reminded the room that Afghanistan was one of the first countries to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ironically, access to healthcare, free press, civil society activities and education are extremely restricted as the Taliban continues to attempt to consolidate power alongside other terror groups like the TTP and the Islamic State (IS). As the civilians continue to face the consequences, the international community, including the UN, must continue their efforts such as providing humanitarian aid and facilitating negotiations.

Ms. Farima Nawabi, a former diplomat and Afghan woman recounted her lived experience under Taliban controlled Afghanistan in the 1990s stating that “I lost my country, I lost my job, I lost my identity”. 

Looking at solutions, Mr. Afridi urged the UN to halt the deportation of Afghan Refugees from neighbouring countries. He further proposed the creation of an all inclusive government that is independent from interference from other countries in order to maintain a degree of objective and inclusive consideration of all people. He firmly stated that military solutions are not an option in a country that is already ravaged by various actors who resort to violence. To compliment this, political analyst Priyajit Debsarkar added that in the context of terror groups, funding and free flowing movement of these groups across borders in the region has resulted in terror attacks across south asia such as the 2008 26th November Mumbai attacks. He urged the UN to recognise this day as a day of international terrorism in the south Asian context.

The event ended with an NGO - EPLO, European Public Law Organisation - asking two pointed questions about the future of the country.

1. What can be done realistically and how?
2. With the militias competing for power, will it become a collapsed state?

The following day, the Afghan delegation to the UN urged the Human Rights council to remember their collective failure to protect Afghan people in the context of Human Rights Defenders. He stated that the harassment and abuse that civil society actors in Afghanistan face under the Taliban rule are a reflection of this. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Ms. Mary Lawlor stated in this session, “My heart goes out to you, Afghanistan”. Afghanistan continues to be a country with complex and longstanding issues concerning minorities, human rights defenders, women and other socio-cultural groups and the UN Human Rights Council continues to discuss this in attempts to find solutions towards this.

References:

1. (2023) Afghanistan: UN experts say 20 years of progress for women and ... Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/03/afghanistan-un-experts-say-20-years-progress-women-and-girls-rights-erased (Accessed: 12 March 2024). 
2. Universal declaration of human rights (no date) United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights#:~:text=Article%2014,principles%20of%20the%20United%20Nations. (Accessed: 12 March 2024). 
3. Article 14(1)

Zompa, T. (2021) Imran Khan defends Taliban on female education. Pakistanis say ‘educate yourself’, ThePrint. Available at: https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/imran-khan-defends-taliban-on-female-education-pakistanis-say-educate-yourself/784599/ (Accessed: 12 March 2024).