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ISHR and partners have published a revised Q&A document that provides details of a Human Rights Council-mandated comprehensive accountability mechanism on Afghanistan.

Zholia Parsi of Afghanistan and Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov of Tajikistan received the 2024 Martin Ennals Award in recognition of their work in deeply repressive environments.

Notwithstanding the Human Rights Council (the Council)’s sustained attention on Afghanistan and the adoption of a resolution renewing the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, the Council failed to adequately respond to the escalating human rights crisis and calls from civil society and women human rights defenders. Governments need to take action now!

During an Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan on 19 June, in which he presented his most recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, ISHR made a statement noting that the pursuit of justice for women and girls in Afghanistan demands a multifaceted approach including various accountability mechanisms.

Nazifa Jalali, along with ISHR, called on UN Member States to establish a mandated investigative mechanism to contribute towards accountability for the Taliban's human rights violations, and for States to continue to support Afghanistan’s human rights movement.

In a joint submission for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Afghanistan, ISHR and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) draw urgent attention to the ongoing gender persecution in Afghanistan by the Taliban, and the institutionalised framework of gender apartheid.

Next week, the Human Rights Council will seek to adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. The context in which this takes place is of deep financial, humanitarian and human rights crises in the country, but also of political negligence by the international community.

A joint report by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan and the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in law and practice found that grave, systematic and institutionalised discrimination against women and girls is at the heart of Taliban ideology and rule.

Civil society groups have welcomed the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, for an additional year. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur remains crucial for ongoing monitoring and documentation of the situation in the country.

One year after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the UN independent experts have affirmed the calls of Afghan civil society that “it is time to rapidly step up efforts to ensure accountability for violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law. Impunity will only lead to further violations and deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.”

Eleven States vying for seats at the UN Human Rights Council for 2023-2025 joined ISHR and Amnesty International’s annual pledging event, outlining their commitments to advancing the human rights agenda and fielding questions from civil society.

International community urged by Afghan women to “move from beautiful words and statements, to practice” as the Human Rights Council adopts resolution on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.