STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 46th Session
Agenda items 2 & 10: HC report on Afghanistan
Statement by Nordic and Baltic countries
Madam President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.
We welcome the report by the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and technical assistance achievements. We applaud the support by UNAMA, in cooperation with OHCHR, to the Government, to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and to civil society, aiming to further integrate human rights into peace and reconciliation processes and to victim centered justice.
Inclusive participation of all Afghans, including women, is essential for peace negotiations to result in permanent and sustainable peace.
The international donors’ conference on Afghanistan in November 2020 emphasized that commitment to human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and gender equality are prerequisites for continued international support. The social and developmental gains of the last 20 years, in particular respect for human rights, especially for women, children and persons belonging to minorities, must be protected and built upon.
We are concerned about the prevailing high number of civilian victims, in particular women and children, and increasing number of terrorist attacks targeting civil society and call on the Government to strengthen accountability.
Furthermore, we appeal to authorities to take measures to eliminate violence against women and girls, prevent torture and to establish an official moratorium on the death penalty.
Thank you.