STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 60th Session
Item 2 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway on behalf of
the Nordic Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway.
Check against delivery
7 September 2026
President,
I have the honour to speak for the Nordic-Baltic States.
We thank Special Rapporteur Bennet for his important report and dedication to the Afghan people.
We remain deeply concerned by Afghanistan’s worsening human rights situation. Women and girls face systematic discrimination, with education and employment restricted, intensified enforcement of dress-codes, and new decrees that further institutionalize discrimination. This includes Decree No. 18 that enables child marriage.
We condemn cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments and restrictions on freedom of expression, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society.
The de facto authorities’ policies have consequences that affect the future of an entire generation of Afghan children. We applaud the resilience, creativity and determination of young Afghans, referred to in the report, who continue to challenge restrictions and defend their rights, often at considerable personal risk.
History shows that the world neglects Afghanistan at its own peril. We should find more ways to engage these brave actors inside the country, to support them in this important work. We encourage concrete measures to operationalize the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan and reiterate our strong support for the Special Rapporteur’s mandate.
Special Rapporteur, how can we engage effectively with Afghan actors?
I thank you.