Statement on Haiti and Afghanistan

Item 10: HC/SG country reports (Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Yemen). Statement, 22 March 2018.

As delivered by Minister Counsellor Herborg F. Alvsåker

President,

In Haiti women are poorly represented in the political sphere. This represents an unfortunate democratic deficit. Moreover, Norway is also concerned about the high level of violence against women in all parts of Haitian society and the lack of proper legislation in this field.

Two bills targeting the LGBTI community were recently passed [in the Haitian Senate] and are due to be discussed in Parliament. The initiative has led to increased intimidation of [members of] the LGBT- community. This is a matter of concern and we encourage the Haitian authorities to ensure full and effective protection of all LGBTI persons.

The high level of violence in Afghanistan represents a major challenge to the human rights situation. Afghanistan remains one of the most high-risk countries for journalists. Norway encourages Afghanistan to end torture [and maltreatment] in prisons, and abolish death penalty. Legislation ensuring universal human rights for women in Afghanistan has been strengthened, but is poorly enforced. Legal challenges regarding the status of women in marriage and child marriage remain. Women must be included in all efforts to counter extremism and achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict. We welcome the Afghan Government’s commitment to this in the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Thank you.