UN Human Rights Council – 51st session
Item 2: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan
12 September 2022
Mister President, Mister Special Rapporteur,
FIDH and its member organization Armanshahr/OPEN ASIA welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report, which paints a grim picture of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, including that of women, civil society, and human rights defenders. It also makes clear that “widespread gross violations continue to be committed [...] primarily due to the Taliban’s actions.”
The dire human rights situation is compounded by the complete absence of the rule of law and by the Taliban’s dismantling of both state and independent institutions. This perpetuates impunity for abuses. Afghanistan can no longer afford to be run by “de facto” authorities that act in complete disregard for the country’s constitutional framework and its international human rights obligations. It urgently needs democratic and accountable institutions at the executive, legislative, administrative, and judicial level.
The international community must engage the Taliban without further delay to ensure the establishment of a clear time frame for the return of Afghanistan to a democratic system and the respect of the existing constitutional order. Without such reform, human rights violations will continue to be committed with total impunity.
We call on the Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and to set up a robust mechanism to investigate all human rights violations and hold perpetrators to account.
Mister Rapporteur, do you think the establishment of a UN-mandated independent investigative mechanism could contribute to efforts to stop human rights violations and hold perpetrators accountable? In your view, what would such mechanism look like?
Thank you.