Critical Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan Calls for End of Assets Freeze by US

Critical Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan Calls for End of Assets Freeze by US
photo: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan via Flickr, 08-01-2015

26-04-2022

Myrthe Niemeijer

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence 

On 25 April, independent UN human rights experts urged the United States (‘US’) to ease its freeze on Afghanistan’s foreign assets. The experts stated the  ‘critical humanitarian situation’ could significantly benefit from unblocking the $7 billion reserves of Afghanistan’s central bank. [1] 

The foreign assets freeze was imposed through a Presidential Executive Order by President Biden last February, and the UN experts stated that it has since worsened the humanitarian crisis. Rather than providing for humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, sums of the blocked $7 billion are reportedly being used for ‘other purposes’ within the US. As a result of this and the overbroad terms employed by the Order regarding violations, the Afghanistan people are prevented access to essential humanitarian goods. 

Recalling the obligation under international human rights law to ensure that activities under States’ jurisdiction or control do not cause human rights violations, the UN experts called on the US to end the assets freeze and curb the mounting humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. 

Notes:

[1] The full statement is available here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/04/afghanistan-un-experts-call-us-government-unblock-foreign-assets-central 

Sources and further reading: 

UN Human Rights. (2022, April 25). UN human rights experts urge United States to ease Afghanistan assets freeze. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1116852