Australia thanks the High Commissioner for her reports on Afghanistan.
Australia calls on the Taliban to uphold the human rights of all Afghans, including women and girls and all minorities.
We are deeply concerned by reports of arbitrary detention and the ill-treatment of civil society activists and journalists in Afghanistan. We are concerned, too, by reported reprisals against former Afghan government officials and security force members, despite the Taliban’s announced amnesty.
Australia strongly condemns this increasing intimidation and violence. We call on the Taliban to investigate these violations and hold perpetrators to account.
The Taliban leadership must protect freedom of expression, international human rights obligations, and communicate to its members that there must be no reprisals against journalists going about their work.
Afghan children must be afforded the right to education regardless of gender, and must not be sold, forced into marriage or economic labour, or recruited into armed groups.
These fundamental protections are a prerequisite for the processes of national reconciliation and engagement with civil society, both of which are essential to building trust and genuine stability in Afghanistan.
Australia strongly supports the mandate for the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. We ask the High Commissioner how the international community can ensure the Taliban affords free and unhindered access to the Rapporteur once appointed?
Thank you.