Oral Statement for the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Speaker: Mohammad Asghar SurushI Thank you Mr President and Delegates,ADDO, CSHRN, HRD+, and OMCT stand before this Council with deep concern over the escalating human rights crisis in Afghanistan. Civic space is disappearing—journalists, human rights defenders, and peaceful protesters face arbitrary arrests, threats, and violence for simply speaking out.Women and girls bear the brunt of this repression. The systematic erasure of their rights—bans on education, work, and public life—amounts to gender apartheid. Their voices are silenced, their futures stolen.The reports of torture, inhumane treatment, and forced confessions from OMCT and HRD+ are deeply alarming. Political prisoners endure harsh conditions and unfair trials, with no hope for justice.Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries face detention, insults and forced deportation.This Council must act. We urge:Our neighbouring countries, specifically Iran and Pakistan to respect the rights of Afghan citizens according to accepted international norms. Mass deportation is a serios concern about the lives of HRDs and other vulnerable groups.Immediate release of detained activists and journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work.An end to gender-based discrimination, ensuring women and girls can access education and employmentWe repeat our call on the council to create an independent accountability mechanism to monitor, document, preserve and follow-up on human rights violations and hold perpetrators accountable.Afghanistan must not be forgotten!Thank you. Watch The Meeting

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Open Letter: Stop the Deportation of Afghan Asylum Seekers in Pakistan

Date: 28 – February – 25Pakistan’s Prime Minister has announced a March 31 deadline to deport individuals awaiting relocation to third countries unless their cases are swiftly processed by the governments that have committed to resettling them. Many Afghan men and women, particularly human rights defenders and activists, have fled due to violence, persecution, political repression, honor-related killings, and other severe human rights violations. While the international community has made promises for their relocation—including immigration interviews and visa appointments for countries such as the USA, Germany, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom—Pakistan has increased pressure on Afghan asylum seekers. This includes forced migration, detentions, exorbitant visa fees, and now, the imminent risk of mass deportations.Ongoing Human Rights Violations in Pakistan:The Pakistan police have detained human rights defenders, activists, children (both unaccompanied and with families), pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities—including many who hold active visas and legal rights to remain in the country. Women and girls are at heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in Pakistani jails and upon return to Afghanistan. Many lack access to justice, legal representation, and fair refugee status determination procedures. Deporting them under these conditions violates their basic human rights and contradicts international human rights law, which explicitly states that asylum seekers cannot be penalized and forced deported.Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law regarding Afghan asylum seekers and Refugees:Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): Pakistan ratified the CRC in 1990. The CRC protects child refugees and prohibits their detention and deportation, as such actions harm their well-being. However, as mentioned in the letter, Pakistan has detained children, both unaccompanied and with their families, which is a violation of its obligations under the CRC.International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Pakistan ratified the ICCPR in 2010. Article…

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Prospects of HRDs in Afghanistan 2nd Round of the Strategic Dialogue of Afghan HRDs Berlin, Germany

The 2nd Strategic Dialogue of Afghan Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Exile, themed “Prospects of HRDs in Afghanistan: Accountability and Representation,” was held on December 10–11, 2024, at the Mercure Hotel MOA in Berlin. Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, the event brought together 64 confirmed in-person participants and 43 confirmed online attendees, who faced challenges of security and internet connectivity. The participants included Afghan HRDs, international stakeholders, and advocacy experts. This event served as a critical platform to assess the state of human rights in Afghanistan, foster collaboration among activists, and develop actionable strategies to address ongoing challenges. Through keynote speeches, interactive dialogues, and working group sessions, the conference addressed accountability mechanisms, advocacy strategies, and the vital roles of HRDs both within Afghanistan and in exile. Panels centered on key themes and facilitated dynamic discussions among leading voices in the field. Ms. Atefa Tayeb, warmly welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude for their commitment to advancing human rights. Ms Tayeb emphasized on the current human rights situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, highlighting the erosion of fundamental freedoms and the persistent threats to human dignity. Ms. Nagina Yari presented a comprehensive one-year progress report from the Human Rights Defenders Plus HRD+. Ms. Yari highlighted achievements such as the establishment of working committees, enhanced collaboration with international organizations, and the preparation of multiple reports on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Mr. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, delivered a message that reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Afghan HRDs and introduced critical initiatives. Panel 1: Afghanistan’s International Obligations and AccountabilityThis session explored how the international community can support Afghanistan in meeting its human rights commitments. Panelists examined strategies for advocacy and potential enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. Interactive Dialogue…

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HRD+ Statement Regarding the Increase in Restrictions on Media and the Ban on Political Programs

19/02/2025The de facto Taliban administration, despite repeated calls from civil society, intellectuals, academics, political and economic sectors of the country, continues to impose ever-increasing restrictions on media freedom and other civil liberties. Recently, the de facto Taliban administration issued a decree limiting political programs, including the complete prohibition of all political discussions on media platforms. The Taliban’s extremist rule is gradually imposing intellectual repression on the country’s citizens through various means, plunging society into an information crisis and restricting access to it. These actions by the Taliban violate all fundamental principles and basic civil rights and undermine Afghanistan’s global commitments. It is the fundamental right of the people to be informed about the direction of the country’s political, social, cultural, and economic affairs, the role of the government in social security, and the evolving stance of the international community on Afghanistan. Political and social programs in the media serve the critical function of engaging analysts to address these vital issues and provide a space for political discourse for Afghan citizens. Unfortunately, the oppressive Taliban administration is depriving the people of this crucial opportunity. Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) urges media-supporting institutions worldwide, in the region, and in Afghanistan to take a firm stance on this matter and to persist in their efforts to influence the Taliban’s approach. HRD+ also calls on the human rights treaty monitoring committees, particularly the Human Rights Committee, which oversees the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to take serious action in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 20 of the ICCPR, to which Afghanistan is a signatory. HRD+ urges all media outlets operating outside Afghanistan to fill this gap in national media by focusing more on political programming and making every effort to compensate for the…

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HRD+ Statement on the Taliban Leadership’s Decision to Ban Women and Girls from Obtaining Medical Education

‘The Taliban’s new decision will increase the mortality rate among Afghan women.’The Taliban de facto administration has once again demonstrated its disregard for the fundamental needs of Afghan society. In yet another irresponsible act, the Taliban leadership has issued a decree banning medical education institutions from admitting women and girls to professional medical training programs. This decision has caused widespread shock and deep concern both nationally and internationally.A pressing question arises: how can the vast number of women suffering from physical and psychological issues in Afghanistan be saved from their current plight if they are denied the opportunity to acquire medical skills for treatment and care? Meanwhile, many Taliban leaders’ families reside abroad, unaffected by these severe social, economic, and cultural hardships. The primary victims of such inhumane decisions are Afghanistan’s impoverished and destitute population. Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, the feminization of poverty in recent years has exacerbated health issues among women. The Taliban’s prior policies have severely restricted women’s access to healthcare facilities and treatment. In this context, shutting down women’s medical education institutions and banning their studies will drastically reduce the number of midwives, further limiting access to safe childbirth services. As a result, women and newborns will face even greater risks of death during childbirth. It is clear that if the rapid imposition of restrictions on women’s basic human rights is not halted, the entire society will suffer significantly.HRD+ urgently calls on the international community, especially organizations involved in global health and humanitarian aid—including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the European Union’s Health Support Commission, international oversight bodies for healthcare in impoverished nations, global humanitarian aid organizations, and human rights monitoring entities worldwide—to intervene immediately. We urge them to exert pressure…

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM FOR AFGHANISTAN

INTRODUCTIONSince taking power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed ever-more extreme restrictions on human rights. The rights of women and girls have been especially affected: they have been barred from education beyond sixth grade and many forms of employment, and banned from singing, reading aloud, or even being heard outside their houses. LGBTQI+ people face arbitrary detention, extortion, torture and other ill-treatment and unlawful killing. Taliban forces have summarily executed and forcibly disappeared former government employees, especially security officers. Ethnic and religious minorities face significant risks of persecution and discrimination. Journalists, human rights defenders, and protesters, particularly women, face harassment, arbitrary detention, and violent reprisals. The Taliban have imposed cruel and inhuman punishments, including public executions, flogging and other forms of corporal punishment. The ongoing humanitarian crisis, compounded by economic collapse and the Taliban’s ban on women aid workers, has led to widespread poverty and food insecurity. Women and girls face limits on their freedom of movement that impacts their access to health care, resulting systemic abuses of reproductive rights and the right to health more generally.As noted in the recent United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stocktaking report on accountability options and processes for human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, addressing long-standing and entrenched impunity for past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses in the country is essential to ensure victims’ rights to justice, truth and reparation. It is also crucial for long-term sustainable peace, development and reconciliation, establishing the rule of law, preventing recurrence, and rebuilding trust among the full range of members of Afghan society.The latest resolution on Afghanistan (57/3), adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) by consensus in October 2024, provides a blueprint for the action that is needed going forward. It stresses the…

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HRD+ Statementon on the Massacre of Innocent Civilians in Baghlan Province

Recently, 12 innocent Afghan citizens were martyred by “unknown” assailants and terrorists while they were engaged in prayer and worship at a mosque in Nahrin District, Baghlan Province. This is not the first time that our devout compatriots have been massacred during worship by cruel and terrorist groups. The Taliban de facto administration has failed to publish the results of any investigations regarding such incidents, deepening ambiguity about the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.The Taliban de facto administration, which once claimed security as one of its key achievements, has been unable to address such critical matters. These repeated, organized, and group killings with unidentified perpetrators raise significant questions about who is behind these inhumane actions. Over the years, the Taliban’s actions have clearly demonstrated sensitivity toward other religious groups, and their silence in this regard further implicates their responsibility. Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD+) strongly condemns these mysterious and organized killings and puts forward the following recommendations:The Taliban de facto administration must immediately investigate the perpetrators of this group killing of our citizens in Nahrin, publish the findings, and present concrete evidence.HRD+ calls on the Taliban de facto administration to release the findings of previous investigations into attacks against followers of different religious minorities in the country to inform the Afghan public.HRD+ urges Ms. Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to intervene in this matter and provide investigations and recommendations to the Afghan people and the international community.HRD+ calls on Mr. Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, to take immediate action and, in coordination with civil society organizations and human rights activists, prepare a special report on the “challenges to freedom of belief in Afghanistan” and share it with national and international community alongside constructive and actionable recommendations.HRD+ strongly…

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Ahmad Sardar

Name: Ahmad SardarOccupation: JournalistDate of Birth: 1974Date of Death: 2014Place of Death: KabulPerpetrator: The Taliban Life and Education:According to a report by Ariana News, Ahmad Sardar was born in 1974 in Kabul. He completed his high school education at Abdul Ghaffar Khan High School in 1992 and then pursued journalism at Kabul University. In 2003, he began his professional career with Agence France-Presse (AFP News Agency). Ahmad was a devoted husband and father, with two sons and a daughter. On the night of Nawroz (the first night of the Persian New Year corresponds to March 20, 2014), he and his family went to Kabul Serena Hotel to celebrate the New Year when Taliban gunmen attacked. Ahmad, his wife, six-year-old daughter Nilofar, and five-year-old son Omar were tragically killed. His two-year-old son, Abuzar, survived but was injured in the attack.Activities:The Independent website, in a report about the murder of Ahmad Sardar, stated: “Ahmad became a journalist in 2001 following the fall of the Taliban regime, when he started work as a translator for Japanese journalists. Two years later the AFP news agency hired him to cover daily press conferences in the US army base in Bagram. He duly perfected his English and his career as a reporter took off.” The report further notes: “Over the years Ahmad built up a series of strong sources among Afghanistan's complex, tumultuous political life from all sides of the conflict, reporting regularly for AFP as well as running Pressistan, an agency which helped foreign journalists find their feet in Afghanistan. But apart from his versatility and widely respected political journalism, Sardar Ahmed had a striking ability also to find original 'human interest' stories which had little or nothing to do with the conflict, and which allowed him to portray life in Afghanistan beyond the…

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Shirzad Safi

Name: Shirzad SafiAcccupation: Civil ActivistDate of Birth: 1985Date of Assassination: April 13, 2019 Place of Assassination: LaghmanPerson/Group Responsible for Assassination: Taliban Life and Education:Shirzad Safi was born in 1985 in the village of Sabraabad, Alisheng district of Laghman province. He held a bachelor’s degree in economics and was fluent in English, Arabic, and Urdu.Activities:In 2009, Safi founded the Laghman Youth Solidarity Organization, which united young people not only in the provincial center but also in the districts and villages of Laghman. Besides his civil society efforts, he was elected as the President of the Laghman Youth Federation by two hundred youth representatives, and he also served as a member of the High Peace Council. His main activities included introducing civil society initiatives to the youth of Laghman, facilitating education for hundreds of orphans and the impoverished, raising awareness among the province’s young population, and combating corruption and warlords through his writings.  To read more please also see the PDF.  Profile (PDF)

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Abdul Samad Amiri

Name: Abdul Samad AmiriOccupation: Acting Director of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in Ghor provinceDate of Birth: May 25, 1990Date of Death: September 5, 2019Site of the Incident: Maidan Wardak ProvincePerson /Group Responsible for the Incident: The TalibanLife and Education:Abdul Samad Amiri was born in the Lal va Sarjangal district of Ghor province. Nawroz Raja, an Afghan author and researcher, noted in a Facebook post about Amiri's life that he was the eldest son of the family and began his education at Imam Ali High School in Lal. Raja states, “Amiri graduated from high school in 2009 with excellent marks and in 2013 earned his law and political science degree from Kabul University with honors. During his school and university years, he also became proficient in English and Pashto.”According to Etilaat Roz, as shared by Amiri’s younger brother, he had recently applied for the Fulbright Master’s program a while before his death. Nawroz Raja elaborates on this by stating, “He aimed to enhance his abilities to offer greater services to society and had applied for a Fulbright Master’s degree, with plans to pursue a Ph.D. later on.” He also quoted Amiri, who expressed, “I need some time to work in my field and improve my TOEFL scores from 97 to 110. But before that, I must organize my home life to ensure my parents and sisters, who have sacrificed so much for my growth, can live comfortably.”On August 31, 2019, while traveling from Kabul to Ghor, Amiri was abducted by the Taliban in the Jalreez district of Maidan Wardak province. He was executed by gunfire on the morning of Thursday, September 5, 2019, and his body was found alongside the road. According to Etilaat Roz, Amiri’s execution by the Taliban occurred just two days after former U.S.…

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