Published 1 September 2022
Last updated 20 September 2022 + show all updates

Thank you Mr President,

Two months ago, this Council concluded that “the oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan is grave, institutionalized, widespread and systematic”. Tragically, nothing has changed.

To the human rights defenders across Afghanistan and to the Afghan women here today, let me begin by saying thank you. Thank you for continuing to shine a spotlight on the appalling situation you face. I am humbled by your courage and tireless determination.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls cannot attend secondary school. Women in Afghanistan are unable to move around freely. They are confined to their homes. In many cases they are unable to work. They are severely restricted from enjoying their human rights.

With girls kept out of school, and as parents struggle to feed their families, the risk of child early and forced marriage increases.

Without education for girls, there will be fewer doctors, teachers and entrepreneurs in Afghanistan.

The UK will continue strongly championing the voices of Afghan women and girls and continue to provide life-saving support and provide space for Afghan women’s voices.

Our message to the Taliban is clear. Listen to Afghan women. Allow girls to go to school. Allow women to work. Allow women humanitarian workers to deliver life-saving aid. To put it simply, uphold their human rights.

Mr President, this Council must unite and demonstrate, once again, that we stand with Afghan women and girls.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Special Rapporteur,

Let me start by thanking you for your detailed and sobering update to this Council. It is a reminder to us all, on this first day of the fifty-first session of the Council, of how crucial your mandate is in providing a voice to millions of Afghans.

We share your grave concern about the, “staggering regression in women and girls’ enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights since the Taliban took power”. Indeed, in no other country have women and girls so rapidly disappeared from all spheres of public life, particularly secondary schools. We call on the Taliban to urgently reverse these policies and practices restricting the human rights of Afghan women and girls.

Special Rapporteur, we also welcome your efforts to shed light on the broader situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Religious and ethnic minorities continue to be targeted, including by terrorist groups. There are allegations of arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings at the hands of the Taliban. Media freedoms have been restricted and there are all too frequent reports of peaceful public dissent being violently repressed.

The UK remains committed to supporting the Afghan people. We urge the Taliban urgently to take steps to protect the rights of all Afghans. This includes ensuring inclusive dialogue, which truly reflects Afghan society.

Your role, Special Rapporteur, is vital to provide an independent voice for the Afghan people, including women and girls. We will do all we can to support you in your work and we encourage our fellow members of this Council to do the same.

Thank you.

Thank you Mr President,

Let me warmly thank colleagues for this morning’s silence for Hr late Majesty Elizabeth the second.

The UK continues to condemn the military coup in Myanmar, the violence against the people of Myanmar, and the unlawful detention and execution of figures in the deposed civilian government and civil society by the military.

Security forces continue to commit atrocities throughout the country, with credible reports of torture, burning of villages, sexual violence, violence against children, and mass killings. 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine state, where they face systemic discrimination; are denied their citizenship rights and access to education and healthcare.

The UK will continue to apply pressure through international fora, targeted sanctions and other means to respond to the junta’s actions. We have also announced our intention to intervene in the ICJ case brought by The Gambia for Myanmar’s alleged breach of the Genocide Convention. We welcome the Mechanism’s cooperation with the Court.

The international community must support the IIMM to collect and preserve incidents of human rights violations. The UK has provided 500,000 pounds sterling of core funding, and established the Myanmar Witness programme.

Mr Koumjian,

What actions can the international community take to improve evidence gathering for alleged crimes relating to gender and children?