Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr President,
New Zealand appreciates the oral update provided by the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the continued serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
Since the 49th session of the Human Rights Council in March, as you have noted, the Taliban has issued directives that further restrict human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. As a result, high school-aged girls are not able to further their education; women and girls must cover themselves in public; and women and girls can leave home only in cases of necessity – and even then, they must be accompanied by a man.
These developments are deplorable.
Women and girls in Afghanistan should be free to choose how they express themselves, and to participate and move freely in society. They should also have the right to pursue education and to improve their futures.
New Zealand firmly condemns any actions that restrict the fundamental human rights of all people in Afghanistan and calls for the Taliban to respect their expressed commitment to respect human rights.
Madame High Commissioner, what are the prospects for the reversal of the Taliban’s recent restrictive edicts? What more can the international community do to encourage respect for universal human rights in Afghanistan, in particular women and girls?
Thank you Mr President.