Madam President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, my own country Spain and a group of countries.

We are deeply concerned by reports of serious human rights violations across Afghanistan. We call for the immediate cessation of targeted killings of women’s rights defenders.

We are troubled by reports of a reduction in rights and access to services and public spaces for Afghan women and girls.

Women’s empowerment benefits all Afghans. The protection of Afghan women’s and girls’ human rights must be an integral part of the political solution We call upon all States and all parties to create and support an enabling environment for all women to have a meaningful participation in this process as acknowledged in HRC resolution 45/28. We further call upon all parties to commit to protecting human rights workers and advocates.

The gains of the last 20 years must be preserved. Afghan women’s organisations that advocate for and provide services to women and girls must be allowed to continue their crucial work.

We strongly condemn all forms of violence against women and girls. We call on those in power and authority to guarantee women’s and girls’ rights to education, work, health and freedom of movement, to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. We will closely monitor the protection and enjoyment of all human rights.

Afghan women and girls deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We stand ready to amplify their voices and ensure their concerns are heard.

I thank you.

List of countries supporting joint statement on women and girls in Afghanistan by Australia and Spain

1. Australia
2. Spain
3. Eslovenia/Slovenia
4. Albania
5. Ucrania/Ukraine
6. Grecia/Greece
7. Macedonia
8. Colombia
9. Argentina
10. Guatemala
11. Dinamarca/Denmark
12. Mónaco
13. Alemania/Germany
14. Austria
15. Suecia/Sweden
16. Países Bajos/Netherlands
17. Polonia/Poland
18. Irlanda/Ireland
19. Luxemburgo
20. Letonia/Latvia
21. Liechtenstein
22. Malta
23. Montenegro
24. Israel
25. Lituania/Lithuania
26. Vietnam
27. Nueva Zelanda/New Zeland
28. Perú
29. Croacia/Croatia
30. Portugal
31. Estonia
32. Islas Marshall/Marshall Islands
33. Finlandia/Finland
34. Francia/France
35. Rumanía /Romania
36. Moldavia(/Moldova
37. Bulgaria
38. Panamá/Panama
39. Chipre/Cyprus
40. Chile
41. Georgia
42. Republica Checa/Cz Republic
43. Italia/Italy
44. Corea/ROK
45. Japón/Japan
46. Hungría/Hungary
47. Andorra
48. Bosnia-Herzegovina
49. Libia/Lybia
50. Eslovaquia/Slovakia
51. Bélgica/Belgium
52. Islandia/Iceland
53. Suiza/Switzeland
54. India
55. Ecuador
56. Indonesia
57. Costa Rica
58. México/Mexico
59. Gabón
60. Estados Unidos/US
61. Reino Unido/United Kingdom
62. Bahamas/The Bahamas
63. Noruega/Norway
64. Brasil / Brazil
65. Canadá/Canada
66. Zimbabue/Zimbabwe
67. Timor Leste
68. Cabo Verde
69. Singapore