8th Meeting - 61st Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished participants, I hereby call to order the eighth meeting of the sixty-first session of the Human Rights Council. Excellencies, distinguished participants, I now call to order, or rather open, agenda item 2, entitled Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports from the – or rather, of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary General. We shall now begin the enhanced interactive dialogue on the Office of the High Commissioner’s report and on the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. This is pursuant to resolution 60/2. It is my honor to welcome to the podium Mr. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He will deliver an opening statement. It is also an honor my honor to welcome our distinguished participants: Mr. Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; His Excellency Mr. Nasir Ahmad Andisha, the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations Office in Geneva; Ms. Soraya Daldil, a representative of civil society from Afghanistan; Ms. Lema Koschal, a representative of civil society from Afghanistan as well. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now invite the High Commissioner to make an opening statement for this enhanced interactive dialogue. Sir, the floor is yours.

Mr.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice Chair.

Distinguished delegates. Afghanistan is a graveyard for human rights. The cascade of edicts and laws announced by the de facto authorities since coming to power in 2021 is having a crushing impact on the Afghan people, particularly women and girls. These edicts are being codified into an ever wider de facto legal framework. A new decree signed by the Taliban leader last month defines several crimes and punishments that contravene Afghanistan's international legal obligations. The decree, which is expected to come into effect soon, extends the number of offenses that carry the death penalty. It provides for the use of corporal punishment for numerous offenses, including in the home, legitimizing violence against women and children. and it criminalizes criticism of the de facto leadership and their policies in violation of freedom of expression and assembly. I urge the de facto authorities to rescind this decree and to bring all measures into line with their international obligations. Distinguished delegates, Afghanistan's women and girls face extreme gender-based discrimination and oppression that amounts to persecution. The system of segregation is reminiscent of apartheid, based on gender rather than race. The de facto authorities have in effect criminalized the presence of women and girls in public life. They are banned from secondary education and above, and from most employment. Discrimination affects their health care, their access to civic space, and their freedom of movement and expression. In recent months, the de facto authorities have used the law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice to crack down on men's beards, compel strict wearing of women's hijab, implement the requirement for women to be accompanied by a male guardian, prohibit music and images of living beings, and enforce mandatory prayers. Since 7 September 2025, The de facto authorities have prevented Afghan women, including UN staff, contractors, and visitors, from entering the United Nations' own premises across the country. These restrictions are unprecedented and deeply disturbing. Public executions continued in Afghanistan in violation of international law. The Afghan media operate under censorship and financial strain. They are forbidden from broadcasting music and drama or publishing any content the de facto authorities deem contrary to Afghan culture and their own interpretation of Sharia law. Women journalists face almost impossible obstacles to carrying out their important work. A nationwide 48-hour communications blackout implemented by the de facto authorities at the end of September last year had severe and, in some cases, life-threatening impacts. It disrupted health care, emergency services, aviation, and banking system, and exacerbated restrictions on women and girls. Distinguished delegates, millions of Afghans live in utter poverty. deprived of their right to adequate food, clean water, and access to education, health care, and employment. Economic problems were compounded by two earthquakes in late 2025. Cuts to humanitarian and human rights funding are denying people their last lifeline, and I urge governments to reverse them. The World Food Programme warns It is turning away three out of four acutely malnourished children because of funding shortfalls. Significant numbers of refugees continue to return to Afghanistan, most of them forced back by neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The vast majority arrive with few belongings, little access to health care and education, and no job prospects. I am also disturbed by reports that several more countries are taking steps to return Afghan refugees involuntarily. Our joint report with the UN Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, released in July last year, highlighted that former government officials and members of the security forces who returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran were subjected to killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, and ill-treatment. I urge countries to refrain from returning refugees and migrants to Afghanistan without an individualized assessment of their circumstances, to ensure this does not violate their human rights, particularly the principle of non-refoulement. Distinguished delegates, I am very concerned by a sharp increase in civilian casualties in cross-border clashes with Pakistani military forces. UNAMA documented 70 civilian deaths and 478 injuries in Afghanistan in the last three months of 2025. There were further casualties earlier this week, when 13 civilians were killed and several more injured following airstrikes by Pakistani forces. The situation calls for urgent political dialogue rather than escalating the use of force. As I have repeatedly stressed, in Afghanistan and elsewhere, human rights violations and abuses have serious implications for peace and security. The closure of civic space in Afghanistan undermines efforts to build trust and strengthen social cohesion. Distinguished delegates, my office is documenting and recording the violations and abuses that have taken place in Afghanistan. In our interactions with the de facto authorities, We continue to do everything in our power to insist on compliance with their obligations and international law. And I make five calls on the de facto authorities. First, to reverse the course on excluding half of the population. Women and girls are the present and the future, and the country cannot thrive without them. I call on the de facto authorities to rescind all discriminatory decrees, edicts, and policies to ensure that women and girls have access to secondary and tertiary education, health care, and employment, and to enable them to participate fully in public life. Stop obstructing the work of the UN and humanitarian agencies, and allow women, including UN staff, unhindered access to UN premises. Second, I urge them to establish a complete moratorium on executions, with a view to the abolition of the death penalty, and to end corporal punishment. Third, cease all arbitrary arrests and detentions. Ensure due process and fair trial guarantees for all, in line with international standards. Fourth, ensure full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need. Fifth, I call on them to respect freedom of expression and to remove restrictions on the media, end censorship, and allow journalists, particularly women, to work without fear. Distinguished delegates, the international community needs to find ways to put pressure on the de facto authorities to meet Afghanistan's international human rights obligations. Accountability is essential, and there has been some progress with the issuance in July 25 of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court. My office is working to operationalize the independent investigative mechanism established by this Council, and I call on Member States to provide their full cooperation and financial support. I also urge other states to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute violations of international law committed by their forces during decades of conflict in Afghanistan. I fully support efforts to codify gender apartheid, among other crimes, in the proposed treaty for the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. Defining gender apartheid is essential to ending it. The Doha process provides a pathway towards reintegrating Afghanistan into the international community, while respecting its international obligations, including on human rights. I call on participating states to continue to ensure that human rights are central to their engagement. For example, work on counternarcotics must consider how anti-drug policies affect women and vulnerable communities. Engagement with the private sector must highlight the harm done to business by the systematic exclusion of women. Distinguished delegates, it's up to every country to ensure that all interactions with the de facto authorities are underpinned by respect for the human rights of all Afghans. That is the only path forward towards an Afghanistan at peace with itself, its neighbors, and the world.

Muchas gracias.

I thank the High Commissioner. I now give the floor to the panelists for their introductory remarks. You have five minutes each. I now give the floor to Mr. Richard Bennett.

Vice President, High Commissioner, distinguished delegates, members of civil society, Ramadan Kareem. Today I present my new report, which focuses on the right to health for women and girls. It's the product of consultations with well over 100 Afghans, almost all in Afghanistan. I also appreciate the cooperation I received from UNAMA and the UN country team. The report finds that under Taliban rule, Afghanistan is experiencing a profound and escalating health and human rights crisis, especially for women and girls. Decades of conflict and poverty, as well as underinvestment and overreliance on donors, had already left the health system in a fragile state. Recent cuts in aid have worsened the situation, but the Taliban's gender oppressive policies are doing even more harm, preventing women and girls from accessing essential services. Those from minority and marginalized communities face intersecting and compounding barriers. These findings reinforce my previous conclusion that the Taliban are systematically depriving women and girls of their fundamental rights, permeating all areas of life and amounting crimes against humanity. A woman doctor inside Afghanistan, who hoped the Council would hear her words, said, I quote, "Today in Afghanistan, being healthy means much more than not being sick. It means having access to basic health care, enough nutritious food, clean water, safe shelter, and mental well-being. But for women and girls, health also depends on something even more fundamental: freedom. Freedom to move. Freedom to study. freedom to work, freedom to seek care without fear." Despite many challenges, female health workers remain on the front lines delivering essential services to their communities. Her words are a powerful, powerful reminder that protecting the right to health in Afghanistan requires restoring the rights and dignity of women and girls. Since 2021, Afghanistan has suffered multiple shocks that would be challenging for any country: a shrinking economy amid a growing population; massive cuts in international aid; severe droughts and earthquakes; the mainly involuntary return of over 2.7 million Afghans from neighboring countries in 2025 alone; and, most importantly, an extremist de facto authority committing egregious human rights violations. I’ll briefly highlight some deeply concerning human rights developments that warrant this Council’s attention. Last month, the Taliban announced its new criminal rules of courts. Regrettably, they set the stage, as the High Commissioner has already said, for further widespread human rights violations. Other recent Taliban decrees on separation of spouses and preachers also raise concerns. All will be the subject of further scrutiny by my mandate. I'm deeply alarmed about the continuing increase in the use of corporal punishment. There were more public floggings last year than in all previous years combined since the Taliban retook power, and the upward trend is continuing. I'm also increasingly alarmed about retaliatory attacks, particularly those including extrajudicial killings against former government and security officials. particularly those forcibly returned from neighboring countries. Meanwhile, millions of Afghan refugees continue to live in uncertainty and insecurity, and remain at risk of re-form. For almost six months, the Taliban has barred Afghan women, including UN staff, from accessing UN premises. The longer this attack on women's rights is allowed to continue, the more the Taliban will feel emboldened. Member States must forcefully demand the ban’s immediate reversal. Mr. Vice President, when addressing the Council a year ago, I warned that the Taliban was cementing its control over the lives of the people of Afghanistan and that the already grave situation was likely to deteriorate. Under autocratic regimes, things tend to go from bad to worse in stages, step by step. What yesterday seemed outrageous becomes normalized today. Are we normalizing the outrageous actions of the Taliban while Afghans endure the consequences? Nonetheless, the situation is not hopeless. I welcome the Council's establishment of an independent investigative mechanism and hope it becomes operational soon. All accountability processes matter. However, states must do more to offer practical support to the people of Afghanistan without benefiting the de facto authorities unless and until they reverse their policies, especially towards gender equality. Only when rights are restored can the people of Afghanistan thrive and shape the future they deserve. I thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. The speakers list is now closed. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Nasir Ahmad Andisha. The floor is yours.

Mr. ANDISHA: Thank you very much, much gracias, Mr. Vice President, Mr. High Commissioner, Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning. I begin by offering our concern and condolences to the Civilian casualties, as also High Commissioner mentioned, over 70, and the cross-border attacks in southern and eastern Afghanistan. I express my sincere appreciation to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for its continued engagement and documentation of deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, and the Special Rapporteur, Richard Bennett, for his powerful and intersectional account of how the systematic dismantling of women's rights has directly precipitated a collapse of access to healthcare. I also wish to acknowledge the courage of Afghanistan's women, children, health workers, survivors, and the civil society members who risk their safety to share their testimonies, including the two brave women of Afghanistan, one a former minister of health and ambassador here, Madam Soraya Dalil, who is with us on the podium. Mr. Vice President, the report before the Council today affirmed with unmistakable clarity that Afghanistan is witnessing a deliberate entrenchment of a system of repression that's dismantling the very foundation upon which human dignity and human existence depends. Fundamental freedoms have been extinguished through many other things by the so-called Taliban PVPV law and the recent draconian criminal code. but also by everyday practice of arbitrary arrest, pervasive surveillance, censorship, criminalization of dissent, public execution, and corporal punishment. Women are systematically and progressively being excluded from education, employment, essential services, and public life. Forced returns, economic collapse, and obstruction of humanitarian and essential services further deepens the suffering. Mr. Vice President, the report today affirms that health crisis in Afghanistan is structural and gendered. Women are prevented from reaching hospitals without male accompaniment. Women health workers are obstructed from performing their duties. Women are excluded from medical education. Policies restricting education, employment, and movement have created an architecture of deprivation and discrimination that systematically denies women and girls access to health care, undermines their autonomy, jeopardizes their survival, and institutionalizes inequality into the governance. The right to health, which should safeguard survival and dignity, has become a site of ongoing exclusion, control, and harm in Afghanistan. Just I also would like to take one minute to mention that we had a courageous female Afghan doctor who was sending us a message from Kabul, but due to technical issues, we could not get to hear it here. I want to quote just one thing from her. And she said that, "But for women and girls, health also depends on something even more fundamental: freedom. Freedom to move, freedom to study, freedom to work, and freedom to seek care without fear." Mr. Vice President, the consequences are cumulative, generational, and often irreversible. Maternal mortality is rising again in Afghanistan. Millions of women lack reliable access to health care. Nearly 4 million children suffers from acute malnutrition. Preventable diseases, complications, and health are increasing, not because the treatment is unavailable, but because it has been rendered inaccessible within Afghanistan. Children, especially girls, are most vulnerable. The collapse of the health care system and access disproportionally affects those already marginalized: women in rural areas, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, ethnic and religious minorities, widows, unmarried, and those living in poverty. In conclusion, Mr. Vice President, when women are excluded from education, employment, and public life, the health system itself cannot survive. In Afghanistan, this is where gender oppression and deprivation of health coverage revealing a devastating reality of gender discrimination and gender apartheid. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Ms. Soraya Dalil.

Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, women and girls in Afghanistan face profound and escalating barriers to health care. Movement restrictions, constraints on health workers, and most critically, the ban on medical education are all preventing women and girls from enjoying their right to health. As one woman doctor working inside Afghanistan today testifies, a health system cannot survive if half of its potential workforce is excluded. If the situation continues in this direction, the consequences will not only affect women today, they will affect generations. The question before us is, what can be done? I present three interrelated practical avenues for action. First, keeping Afghanistan on the agenda and amplifying the voices of Afghan women and girls. Every international forum should have Afghanistan human rights crisis, particularly the system of gender apartheid, firmly on its agenda. In every interaction with the Taliban, conditions must be clear and consistent: restore fundamental rights, ensure women’s freedom of movement and right to work, including female United Nations national staff, and the repeal of the recent criminal procedure code for courts. But pressure alone is not enough. Centering and amplifying the voices of women from Afghanistan is key. When women from Afghanistan speak on international platforms, they dismantle the dangerous narrative that repression is inevitable, that it's cultural or permanent. It's not inevitable. It's a political choice, and political choices can be reversed. Second, deliver people-centered humanitarian assistance, support grassroots resilience, and foster agency and courage. This means supporting civil society organizations delivering health care, education, shelter, and food. Keeping clinics open, ensuring that women health workers can serve their communities and create alternative learning pathways for boys and girls, such as underground community classes, online learning, and scholarship programs to prevent a lost generation. Use innovative tools, including cash transfers to women. and AI-verified monitoring and aid tracking to help expose and reduce Taliban’s interference and systemic abuses. Assist families returning from Iran and Pakistan in rebuilding their lives. Third, pursue targeted measures and individualized accountability. Sanctions and asset freezes must ensure that architecture of repression is clearly named, documented, and constrained. Accountability must be individualized and focused on those who design and enforce repressive policies, including the Taliban's leader, officials within the justice apparatus, the Ministry of Morality Enforcement, and the Ministry of Higher Education. Recent developments on accountability should be supported. The newly established independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan should be swiftly operationalized and fully funded. Meanwhile, the crime of gender apartheid should be codified as a crime against humanity. Over time, these accountability efforts help break cycles of impunity and lay the foundation for a more just and peaceful future. Afghanistan is a story of fall and rise, a story in which out of destruction comes renewal, out of darkness comes light, and where courage and perseverance endure. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Ms. Leema Koushal.

Bismillah rahmanir Rahim. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, it's a great honor to be here before you and speak not only about the right to health in Afghanistan, but about something just as fundamental: the right to education and the crisis created when the right is denied. I speak to you as an Afghan girl who was Medical education was interrupted under Taliban regime, but I'm not speaking only for myself. I speak as a part of generation of a young woman whose dreams were not just personal ambitions. They were commitment to serve our communities. From a young age, I dreamed to becoming a doctor. I grew up believing that education was the path to service. I studied hard, passed competitive exams, and entered medical school full of hope. I often imagined the day I would graduate and began treating patients. I believed that I would serve my community and contribute meaningfully to my country. Then everything changed. After the Taliban returned, universities were closed to women. I still remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the shock. I kept asking, what will happen to us? What will happen to our education, our future? After some time, university reopened. For a moment, hope returned. But nothing was the same. And after one year, they closed to us again. Then all medical education for women was banned. We couldn't study, not because lack of ability, not because lack of commitment, but because we are women. When your future is taken away from you, emotional strain becomes difficult to maintain. Many girls and young women in Afghanistan are now experiencing serious mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. I saw it myself. I feel it myself. Some have been pushed into early marriage, other have become isolated. These are not just personal struggles. They are the consequence of denying education. Other consequences are just as devastating. When women are denied medical education and prevented from joining the health workforce, Maternal mortality rises, preventable disease return, vaccination rates fall, girls lose safe access to care, trust in health system reduced. Progress made over decades can unravel in just a few years. But there is a deep truth. When girls are denied education at any stage, the foundation of an entire health system begins to weaken. As a global health student today, I understand more clearly than ever, education for girls is not only a human right. It is a health intervention. It's a prevention. It's a protection. It is a life-saving policy. When girls learn, society become healthier, stronger, and more resilient. I stand here not for myself. But for every Afghan girl whose future has been taken from her, we are still here. We still have dreams. We are not asking for privilege. We are asking for our rights. We ask you to stand with us. To international communities, your commitment must not waver. Stand with Afghan women and girls not only in words, but in sustained funding and diplomatic pressure. Investing in girls' education is an investment in public health, resilient communities, and the future of Afghanistan. To the girls who may be watching from Afghanistan, you're strong and brave. Your dreams are valid. Your voice matters. And your potential remains powerful. Hold on to your vision of who you want to become, because Afghanistan needs your leadership, your compassion, and your strength. Thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. I now invite interested delegations to make their statements and ask questions of the panelists if they wish. Speakers will have one minute and 30 seconds. I give the floor to Australia on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Vice President. Australia delivers this statement on behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We are gravely concerned by the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban’s ongoing, systemic campaign of oppression targeting women, girls, and minorities. We deplore the Taliban’s sustained campaign to erase women and girls from public life by eroding their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Nearly 22 million Afghans are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Due to the Taliban’s oppression of women and girls, they face disproportionate effects. The new so-called “Criminal Procedural Regulations” normalize family violence, further entrench discrimination, and undermine due process. As with the so-called law on prevention of vice, the regulations demonstrate a willful, flagrant disregard for Afghanistan's obligations under international law, including international human rights law. These actions undermine peace and stability in the region and do not provide a credible foundation for Afghanistan's re-engagement with the international community. We reiterate our calls for human rights to be upheld in accordance with Afghanistan's obligations under international law. Special Rapporteur, how can we ensure humanitarian support effectively assists oppressed Afghans, particularly women and girls, to address the Taliban's failure to meet their basic needs? Thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the OIC.

Mr. Vice President, the OIC group takes note of the special rapporteurs and OHCHR's reports, and expresses deep concern on the deteriorating human rights, humanitarian, and socioeconomic conditions in Afghanistan. We are also concerned over the repressive policies by Afghan de facto authorities targeting Afghan girls and women. The continuing ban on education for girls, restrictions on women's work, freedom of movement, participation in decision-making, and access to justice, and curbs on freedom of expression and media are against the fundamental human rights, besides being contrary to Islamic teachings. We urge the de facto Afghan authorities to uphold obligations and safeguard the rights of all Afghans, including persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities. Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the group reiterates that the use of Afghanistan's soil for terrorism, including against neighbors, continue to seriously undermine the rights of persons in Afghanistan and beyond. The OIC group urges international community to step up its humanitarian engagement of Afghanistan to provide much needed protection. We reiterate our firm solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.

I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to the European Union.

Ms. Mr. Vice President, distinguished panelists, the EU thanks the special rapporteur and the high commissioner for their reports and clear description of the ever so dire situation, and we thank the speakers for their testimonies. The EU strongly condemns the ongoing systematic human rights violations and abuses by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Their systemic violations of women's and girls' rights may amount to gender persecution. Distinguished Special Rapporteur, your report documents how the Taliban's repressive policies, which flagrantly disregard Afghanistan's international obligations, severely undermine the right to health and dignity of women and girls. Their impact is only to be exacerbated due to the prohibition of education of female medical staff. These policies must be revoked. The EU calls for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including ethnic and religious minorities and persons in vulnerable situations, as well as LGBTI persons. We also call for unhindered and unimpeded humanitarian access, ensuring women can work and deliver assistance across Afghanistan. Victims and survivors of human rights violations and abuses deserve accountability. We welcome the OHCHR's efforts in operationalizing the independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan. Only an Afghan-led political process inclusive of all Afghans, with the equal and meaningful participation of women, can ensure sustainable peace, stability, and prosperity. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Belgium on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. Vice President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Benelux countries. We align ourselves with the EU statement. Women and girls continue to face widespread, grave human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. We witness an institutionalized system of extreme gender-based discrimination and persecution by the Taliban. effectively erasing women and girls from public life. Afghanistan today is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is forbidden to girls and women. We strongly condemn these repressive laws, policies, and practices depriving half of the population of their fundamental rights. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his update and note with deep concerns the restrictions to health services that risk the lives of thousands of Afghan women. It is not only no longer safe to be a woman in Afghanistan, but it is also increasingly dangerous to become a mother. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are being systematically denied, amounting to acts of reproductive violence. Against this backdrop, the Independent Investigative Mechanism was created by this Council. It is our duty to make it operational, giving due regard to a gender, child, and survivor-centered approach. Mr. Bennett, how can existing evidence and data collected by civil society be used meaningfully by the new mechanism? I thank you.

Mr. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Denmark on behalf of a group of countries.

Ms. Vice President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic states. We thank the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for their reports. We share the concern of the Special Rapporteur regarding women's access to health services. We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation, including the institutionalized system of discrimination and oppression against the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, children, the opposition, media, and minorities. The situation has been further institutionalized by decree number 12. If put into force, it could have severe implications to Afghans by a few, I give a few examples, undermining due process and fair trial guarantees, expanding the scope of crimes that can lead to the death penalty, allowing punishment according to social status and religious belief. legalizing corporal punishment by non-judicial actors in private households and schools, and imposing severe punishments for opposition to Taliban and their policies. Many of these elements are in conflict with international human rights obligations, and we call on Afghanistan's de facto authorities to fulfill their obligations, including by reversing policies, decrees, and practices that violate them and jeopardize the future of the Afghan people. Panelists, How do you assess Decree Number 12 and its possible consequences? I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to UN Women.

Thank you, Chair. As Afghanistan approaches five years under Taliban rule, isolated restrictions have hardened into a system of institutionalized gender inequality. Institutions that once provided women protection and recourse, including the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, have been dismantled. The consequences are stark. UN Women, IOM, and UNAMIS nationwide consultation in December last year shows that Afghan women are nearly four times less likely than men to access formal justice, and 55 percent say their access has worsened in the past year. Even informal mechanisms, which have long been the primary avenue for resolving disputes, are closing to women. Only 25% of women report having access, compared to 71% of men. The right to redress is now being structurally redefined. In January this year, the de facto Supreme Court circulated a new decree on criminal rules of courts that effectively embeds gender hierarchy in penal principles and includes provisions that may legitimize discipline within the family. By writing inequality into law, it risks normalizing violence and conditioning women's safety on compliance. The international community must act with clarity and principle. Protection for Afghan women, sustained support to women-led organizations, and continued monitoring and accountability are essential to any meaningful path toward justice and redress. Thank you. Mr.

Gracias.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We take note of the special rapporteurs and OHCHR's reports and remain deeply concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights violations, in particular regarding girls and women in Afghanistan. Pakistan has an unequivocal position on the need to protect and promote the human rights of all, including women, girls, and minorities. Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan nationals for over four decades, demonstrating exceptional solidarity and hospitality. It continues to provide essential services, including health care and education, to thousands of Afghans.

However, unfortunately, the Afghan-based TTP has been attacking innocent civilians in Pakistan for decades and.

Pose a threat, direct threat, to our people and the enjoyment of their human rights.

Pakistan once again urges Afghan Taliban regime to deny use of its soil by terrorists and foreign proxies against Pakistan. and fulfill its commitment under international law and the Doha Agreement to deny use of its soil against other countries. We also urge all stakeholders to support the people of Afghanistan by providing much-needed assistance.

In these challenging times, sustainable responsibility – sustaining responsibility sharing by the broader international community is essential. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We thank the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for their reports. Sierra Leone is deeply concerned about reports of the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the systematic and institutionalized discrimination against women and girls. The reported restrictions on women's education and other fundamental rights represent serious violations of freedom and erosion of human dignity. SIGNALYON is gravely concerned that restrictions on humans -- on women's and girls' access to health and bodily autonomy, coupled with longstanding structural challenges and recent aid cuts, could escalate the crisis into a widespread humanitarian and public health catastrophe affecting millions. SIGNALYON commends Afghan health workers, especially women, for their unwavering dedication to serving their humanity, even in the face of extreme challenges. Their resilience highlights the importance of safeguarding civic space and critical need for ongoing international support. We emphasize that protecting the rights to health is inseparable from protecting women's and girls' right. Discriminatory policies violate human rights and undermine the long-term viability of national health systems and social stability. Sierra Leone calls for coordinated international action to protect fundamental rights, restore essential services, and enable women and girls to participate safely and fully in society. Based on our experience, we believe lasting peace and development depend on respecting the human rights of everyone. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Gracias.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Croatia. MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CROATIA:.

Mr. Vice President, Croatia aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the Office of the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for their comprehensive reports. as well as all the panelists for their testimonies. Following the Taliban’s return to power, highly repressive and regressive policies have severely affected the human rights situation in the country, with the enjoyment of the right to health being among the most affected. As presented in the report, patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes, and unequal power have long influenced decisions about health, but de facto authorities further narrowed the conditions that enable women and girls access to health care. Even worse, staff shortages caused by the ban on medical and health training for women will lead to more severe crises in the future with serious intergenerational impacts on child and adolescent health. The new criminal rules of courts from January 2026 include provisions that effectively permit men to use physical violence against women, with criminal liability arising only in cases resulting in broken bones or obvious bruising. This is yet another shameful practice by the Taliban and needs to be revoked instantly. We support the special rapporteur’s call to immediately lift the ban on medical education and training for women and allow women graduates to enter the health workforce. We also reiterate our previous calls to revoke all policies and practices that deprive women and girls of rights and fundamental freedoms that violate Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations. I thank you.

Thank you. The Republic of Korea has the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Republic of Korea expresses its appreciation for the reports of the Special Rapporteur and the OHCHR. More than four years after the Taliban’s takeover, the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, continue to face worsening human rights violations. The so-called laws, policies, and practices will still block women and girls’ access to education, work, health, and public life. Of particular concern is that the Taliban’s new criminal rules of court would further aggravate the already dire situation. We call on the Taliban to rescind such measures and to uphold its obligations under international law. Moreover, the humanitarian situation has been further undermined by restrictions on women’s work and public services, along with the large-scale return of Afghans. Reiterating our call to uphold human rights, the Republic of Korea will continue to support the Afghan people, building on its contribution of over 100 million USD since 2021. Respect for human rights is not only a matter of the international law, but also a prerequisite for peace and prosperity. The Republic of Korea stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and reaffirms its commitment to working with the international community to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Afghanistan. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Spain.

Thank you very much, Vice President. Spain joins the EU in its statement, and we appreciate the reports from the Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner. But very much in particular, we appreciate the testimonials from the panelists. We condemn in the strongest terms the systematic and institutionalized exclusion of women and girls in Afghanistan from all spheres of public and social life. We demand that all the decrees that reduce their rights be revoked. And the same for the new criminal code, the approval of which causes us enormous concern. Spain will not normalize gender oppression in Afghanistan. In addition to our firm backing of the mechanisms of the and the initiatives of the ICC and the ICJ. Spain hosted last December in Madrid a new Hear Us summit that had a broad participation of Afghan women, including and your participation as well, Mr. Rapporteur. Spain will always be by the side of Afghan women. Their courage and resistance inspire us and inspire our action. This council is an essential component of the multilateral effort. to support human rights in Afghanistan, Spain urges that there be an instant international independent investigative mechanism created by this council. We will support this. We continue to act with determination, with resolve, to ensure the dignity and human rights of Afghan people, particularly women and girls. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Costa Rica.

Thank you, Vice President. Costa Rica expresses its Total indignation, given the last decree from the Talibans in Afghanistan, which create – which does not bring criminal liability unless a bone is broken in domestic violence. This system of violence submits the entire population, a systematic gender-based regime against women and girls. This is a violation of human rights. The restrictions to freedom of movement, including right to information and training in the Mexican – in the – I’m sorry, rectifying – in the medical field, must be addressed. Menstrual poverty, low immunization, pre- and postnatal care, and all of this affects the mental and physical health of the population and the economic development of the country. Women and girls have the right to live with dignity, free of coercion, and to live instead, and to not live under a state that constantly amplifies fear. We call for the raising of voices in the International Criminal Court to study gender apartheid. We call for Afghanistan to respect international human rights law, and in particular, the rights of all people to attain the highest level of highest possible level of physical and emotional and psychological health without discrimination. Thank you.

I now give the floor to Italy.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Italy aligns itself with the U.N. statements and thanks the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for the report. We remain deeply concerned by the persistent and systematic deterioration of fundamental rights, in particular those of women and girls, subject to gender-based, harsh persecution and marginalization. We also share your concern for the profound health crisis and its severe effects, especially once again on women and girls. Italy is also deeply worried by the criminal procedural regulation. which reinforces discrimination and violence against women and marginalized groups, introducing different treatments based on social status and referring to unacceptable categories of free and enslaved persons. This raises very strong concerns under international human rights law, including the absolute prohibition of slavery and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Such developments risk further isolating Afghanistan and are indeed contrary to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what concrete steps should the international community prioritize to help Afghan women and girls safeguarding their rights to health? I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor now to Austria.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Austria aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks the Special Rapporteur and the OHCHR for their report. Your reports have continuously raised awareness about the deteriorating situation faced by women and girls in the country. We are alarmed by the Taliban's newly signed criminal procedure code, which again establishes different classes within Afghan society that hold different rights under the law. Domestic violence that does not cause severe injury has been legalized, once again affecting primarily women and children. At the same time, women who seek refuge with relatives to escape such abuse are being criminalized. Austria also notes with great concern that the cumulative effect of the Taliban's deliberate and systemic restriction of women and girls' rights is particularly visible in the healthcare system. The escalating health crisis in Afghanistan, which is exacerbated by the ban on women attending medical school and the restriction on women and girls' access to health services, perpetuates a dangerous cycle concerning women's health, leaving them vulnerable to preventable disease and death. Austria therefore reiterates its call on the de facto authorities to abide by Afghanistan's international human rights obligations, including under the CEDAW, and to uphold the principles of non-discrimination and the rule of law. Mr. Special Rapporteur, how do you assess the criminal procedure code from a perspective of human rights and sharia law? I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor at this time to Montenegro.

We thank the Special Rapporteur and OHCHR, as well as esteemed panelists, for the insightful reporting and updates. The facts are unequivocal. The most systematic assault on the rights of women and girls continues in Afghanistan. The Taliban have institutionalized gender persecution, systematically stripping women and girls of their fundamental rights, including freedom of movement, education, work, and bodily autonomy. This is a deliberate system of discrimination, domination, and control. The escalating health crisis exposes its human cost: severe restrictions on women's access to healthcare, Constriction on female health workers and the ban on medical education for women are cutting off life-saving services. Preventable deaths will rise, trauma will spread across communities. The dismantling of legal protections, along with the prohibition of female aid workers, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. Those most vulnerable are being pushed further into peril. New criminal regulations codify discrimination and legitimize coercion, including domestic violence. Impunity remains entrenched, sustaining these abuses. Accountability is therefore essential. We reaffirm support for OHCHR to operationalize the independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan. Justice must be credible, victim-centered, and gender-responsive. We call on Taliban to immediately revoke all policies that violate fundamental rights and the country's international obligations. Only an Afghan-led, inclusive political process with women fully participating in decision-making can secure a sustainable peace and stability. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Japan expresses appreciation to the Special Rapporteur and OSCE for their continued effort to improve the human rights situation of the Afghan people. Japan remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially ongoing institutionalized discrimination against women and girls. We are particularly concerned by the reported severe restriction affecting their rights to health, including barrier limiting women and girls' access to health care and their ability to make autonomous decisions about their health. The full realization of the right to health without discrimination is a prerequisite for the exercise of fundamental freedoms and other human rights.

Ensuring that women and.

Girls can receive education, participate in the workforce, and access to health care without barrier is indispensable for Afghanistan's future stability and prosperity. Persistent restrictions on women's rights have serious long-term consequences, including increased maternal mortality and weakened public health capacity. We are also concerned by reports, uh, lessened announcement by Taiwan of criminal rule of code that may affect further institutional discrimination against women. We are particularly concerned that these rules may permit physical violence against women, reinforcing impunity for perpetrator and undermine access to protection for the victim and survivor. Japan calls upon the Taliban to respect Afghanistan's international human rights obligation and ensure women full access to education, medical training, and essential health service. Japan will continue working with international partner to support the Afghan people.

I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to.

We would like to thank you. The Kuwaiti delegation has taken note of the report. We would like to present our concerns on behalf of girls who face restrictions on the rights of women and girls in the areas of education, jobs, and participation in public life, as well as difficult economic and human situations that they also face. Kuwait insists on accountability for the violations that have taken place. We insist that efforts are promoted to put an end to impunity. The rule of law must thus be established for long-term stability. We insist on support for the Afghan people, notably in the area of education, health care, and food security. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Indonesia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Indonesia takes note of the reports presented and thanks all the panelists today. We are concerned by recent legal developments and increasingly strict enforcement of restrictive policies in Afghanistan. These setbacks further limit the rights of women and girls to education, employment, and meaningful participation in public life. They also risk entrenching exclusion and undermining Afghanistan's social cohesion and long-term stability. We also know with concern the ongoing humanitarian challenges affecting a large segment of the population, underscoring the need for continued international support. Indonesia affirms that Afghanistan remains bound by its obligations under international human rights law. Yet at the same time, conditions on the ground calls for continued engagement and cooperation with all stakeholders.

For Indonesia, only an incremental yet sustained transition can lead to lasting stability.

So we continue to support an Afghan-led process that promotes the well-being of the Afghan people. Indonesia remains committed to contributing through concrete initiatives, including in education, health, and economic empowerment, particularly for women and girls.

I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Czechia.

Mr. Vice President, the Czech Republic aligns itself with the EU statement. We remain gravely alarmed by the systematic dismantling of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban's edicts and practices constitute an institutionalized system of gender-based oppression that permeates all spheres of life with devastating consequences for their right to health. The Czech Republic strongly condemns the continuing discrimination, including women and girls' restricted access to essential healthcare, particularly sexual and reproductive health services, the bans on secondary and tertiary education, the prohibition of medical training, and restriction on women's employment in the health and humanitarian sectors. These measures foreseeably cause preventable suffering and death, including rising maternal and child mortality. We reiterate our call on the de facto authorities to immediately lift all restrictions that violate Afghanistan's international human rights obligations, including those relating to women's health, movement, education, and work. Accountability remains essential. the international community must consider all appropriate accountability avenues. Excellencies, how can the Taliban's mindset be changed to allow for a better treatment of women and girls? Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Qatar.

Thank you, Vice President. Afghanistan is going through a critical period of its history. This requires a collective and balanced approach in attempt to bring together a humanitarian response and support for a political process which ultimately will contribute to development and stability. Afghanistan is currently facing complex challenges, including humanitarian needs, climate change, poverty, but also food insecurity, as well as sanctions imposed. The State of Qatar is convinced that constructive dialogue is the only way to resolve these challenges and to allow for stability and peace to be created. This is why we have hosted the meetings of Special Representatives on Afghanistan, to work together to find solutions to high-priority, critical issues. This is a constructive platform for coordination between all stakeholders, and it is a part of shoring up the constructive dialogue between Afghanistan and the international community in an attempt to meet the humanitarian needs of the country and facilitate meeting the needs of the people and the country to bring Afghanistan back into the international community and meet.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to South Africa.

Vice Presidents, this year South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women's March, which challenged both a system of apartheid and patriarchy. In so doing, the women of 1956 not only fought for our freedom, but for that of women and girls everywhere. My delegation therefore cannot remain silent about the dire human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. This is reflected in the countless misogynistic policies that deny women and girls their fundamental human rights and freedoms because they are women and girls. As the Special Rapporteur’s report demonstrates, these include those policies that are designed to rob women and girls of their right to health, which is intertwined with a range of other barriers to accessing their rights, relegating them to the shadows. These policies form part of an institutionalized system of gender discrimination, oppression, and domination that is widespread and systematic, and may constitute a crime against humanity of gender persecution. Those responsible must be held accountable. This Council must therefore ensure that the Independent Investigative Mechanism is urgently operationalized and has the resources to fulfill its mandate. In making this call, we stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan and hope that they take comfort from the words of the woman of 1956: "When you strike a woman, you strike a rock. You have dislodged a boulder. You will be crushed." I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Chile.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. Chile thanks the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur for their reports. Read together, they describe a deeply alarming reality for women and girls in Afghanistan. We’re not facing isolated setbacks. Rather, this is the consolidation of an institutionalized system of discrimination that is cross-cutting throughout education, work, mobility, bodily autonomy, and the possibility of living with dignity. The restrictions that keep women from training as healthcare professionals and from autonomous access to essential services are already serious violations. However, the recent modifications of the criminal code limits liability of marital abuse and also grants legal coverage for domestic violence, this further worsens the situation. In reducing domestic violence to something tolerable except in the case of visible wounds, the institutionalized legal framework brings impunity and consolidates structural relations of subordination. Given this reality, Chile would like to ask: What Concrete responsibilities are in the remit of the international community to prevent greater deterioration and to effectively protect the fundamental rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. I thank you kindly.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Cyprus.

Mr. Vice President, Cyprus aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks the Special Rapporteur and High Commissioner for their respective updates and reports. Since August 2021, we have been witnessing the deepening of the human rights crisis in Afghanistan. Cyprus condemns the systematic gender oppression that has been institutionalized through human rights abuses such as the imposed exclusion of women from secondary and tertiary education. Cyprus is particularly alarmed that these systemic violations primarily detriment the most vulnerable, with an increasing number of girls being denied the full enjoyment of their right to education.

Augmenting the risk of child marriage, child labor, abuse, and trafficking.

SARPIS also deeply regrets that healthcare availability, especially for women, remains poor.

35% of Afghans currently live in underserved areas, with women often being unable.

To receive care due to requirements for gender-segregated care.

SARPIS calls on the Taliban to end governance practices that suppress Afghans' fundamental rights and freedom and conform.

To the international human rights obligations of Afghanistan. Special Rapporteur, what viable pathways exist to ensure accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations in Afghanistan?

Particularly those targeting the rights to education and health care and the treatment of women? Thank you.

Mr.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Bulgaria.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement made by the EU. We thank the Special Rapporteur and the official of the Office of the High Commissioner for their updates on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Bulgaria remains deeply alarmed by the ongoing systematic human rights violations and abuses in the country. An institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, and exclusion of women and girls prevents them from exercising basic human rights, such as the right to education, freedom of expression, movement, work, and access to justice. Limitations to fundamental rights preclude the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls in all spheres of public and political life in Afghanistan, and will have a negative long-term effect on the future development of the country, especially in the field of health and education. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing application of discriminatory legislation, such as the so-called Law of Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and the recently adopted new penal code, which in practice decriminalizes domestic violence. Bulgaria joins others in condemning the continuing gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan, which may amount to persecution of women and girls on grounds of gender. We therefore call upon the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to abide by the international obligations of the country, including those under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I would now like to give the floor to the Russian Federation.

Vice President, we are carefully following the situation in Afghanistan. We are in contact with representatives of the authorities. We call on them to meet their obligations assumed previously in including ethnic groups in decision-making and ensuring that basic rights are complied with. Despite the sanctions, the Afghan authorities are working to resolve the problems that have been accumulated due to the actions of the West over many years. We call for a dialogue with Afghanistan that meets the core needs of economic development and security, as well as the goals of reconciliation between the peoples of Afghanistan. And we call for the assets of Afghanistan outside the country to be released, restrictions on Kabul to be ended. We believe the international community should stop dual standards and not allow the human rights issues to be used to interfere and render pressure on the country within its border, we call on international donors to increase assistance to the country and be neutral, impartial, and independent. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Albania.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Albania thanks the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the High Commissioner for their comprehensive reports. We remain gravely alarmed by the ongoing and systematic violation of human rights, in particular the institutionalized discrimination and oppression of women and girls. We are also deeply concerned about the new so-called criminal procedure code issue. issued by the de facto authorities about attacks on minorities, including ethnic and religious communities, as well as the prosecution of LGBTI persons. Albania strongly condemns these systematic and systemic violations of human rights. We call for the full protection of all minorities and persons in vulnerable situations. Mr. Vice President, Albania fully supports the mandate of Special Rapporteur and the work of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. We also welcome the establishment of the new Independent International Accountability Mechanism for Afghanistan and call for it to become operational as soon as possible. Accountability is essential. The rights of Afghan women and girls are not negotiable. My country stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. We’ll continue to support international efforts to protect human rights, ensure accountability, and prevent the normalization of systematic discrimination and repression. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Malta.

Thank you, Vice President. Malta aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and thanks OHCHR, the Special Rapporteur, and the panelists for their reports. We remain gravely concerned by the continued and systematic deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls. As documented by OHCHR and the Special Rapporteur, the de facto authorities have institutionalized a system of gender-based discrimination that amounts to near-total exclusion of women and girls from public life. Since the Taliban's return to power, more than 70 edicts and directives have been issued that severely restrict women and girls' rights to education, employment, freedom of movement, expression, and access to justice. Girls remain banned from secondary and higher education, making Afghanistan the only country in the world where such a prohibition exists. These measures are profoundly discriminatory and risk creating devastating consequences for women’s health and survival. A society that excludes half its population cannot achieve peace and stability. We call on the de facto authorities to immediately reverse these discriminatory policies and comply with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligation. In conclusion, we reiterate our strong support for the Special Rapporteur and all UN mechanisms assisting the people of Afghanistan. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to France.

Thank you, Vice President. Special Rapporteur. As your reports have shown, five years after the forced overtaking of power by the Taliban, women and girls are facing systematic segregation, including access to health care, which limits their ability to take their own decisions about their body and their health. France urges the Taliban to review all restrictions against women and girls. We welcome the creation of the independent mechanism of inquiry, which will help fight impunity. We reiterate that gender-based persecution is a crime against humanity, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for this. Faced by the relentlessness and obscurantism of the Taliban, France reaffirms its solidarity with Afghan women and girls. We will continue to work with our European partners and the United Nations for the demands posed by the international community in resolution of the Security Council will be respected. France also strongly condemns public executions in Afghanistan. We reiterate our opposition to the death penalty everywhere and in all circumstances. We call for a collective mobilization on the eve of the ninth global congress on the death penalty, which will take place this summer in Paris.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to Liechtenstein.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Liechtenstein thanks the High Commissioner, the Special Rapporteur, and the other panelists for their sobering but powerful contributions. The human rights situation in Afghanistan remains deeply alarming, particularly for women and girls, who continue to be subjected to systematic and institutionalized discrimination and whose rights are further curtailed day by day.

The recent steps to legalize domestic violence mark another low point for women and girls in Afghanistan, with severe consequences for their safety, health, and bodily autonomy. Mr. Vice President.

Gross and systemic human rights violations and crimes under international law, including crimes against humanity of persecution on grounds of gender, must be investigated and perpetrators must be held accountable.

In this respect, the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism has been a crucial step. The international community and this Council must ensure that the Independent Investigative Mechanism is able to carry out its mandate effectively and complementary to the Special Rapporteur's mandate, as well as the ongoing investigation of the International Criminal Court.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Romania.

Thank you, Vice President.

Romania aligns itself with the EU statement and welcomes the presentations and testimonies of the distinguished panelists. Alarmingly, continuous evidence confirms an escalating assault on the rights and freedoms of women and girls under Taliban rule, revealing an increasingly oppressive and intolerable reality. The Taliban authorities continue to perpetuate extreme forms of gender-based discrimination against women and girls, as repression against women intensifies.

Day by day.

The Taliban’s so-called penal code legalizing domestic violence against women and children, so long as it doesn’t leave broken bones, is another shocking and abhorrent assault on human dignity. The international community has a duty to support the victims in Afghanistan and ensure justice for the crimes committed.

Accountability must be ensured, and the Taliban must stop their horrific abuses and begin respecting their human rights and international law obligations. Distinguished speakers, As the repressive social order in Afghanistan is systemically erasing the autonomy of women and girls, how do you see these changes affecting informal social structures and support networks in the country?

Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Slovenia.

Slovenia aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner for their reports and reaffirm our full support for their mandates. Sadly, the reports paint a consistent picture of deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Regrettably, the Taliban have not rescinded any of their gender repressive measures, nor the human rights restrictions affecting their groups.

Slovenia remains gravely concerned about the introduction of further repressive measures that have been imposed on the Afghan population. The institutionalized repression of women and girls through bans on education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life may amount to gender persecution. There has also been an alarming increase in infliction of corporal punishment in 2025. Such policies and practices are in clear violation of Afghanistan's international human rights obligations. Accountability is essential.

We stress the importance of preserving evidence and supporting international accountability mechanisms to ensure that victims have access to justice.

Slovenia will continue to support initiatives

within this council aimed at promoting accountability, protecting civil space, and ensuring that the voices of Afghan women are heard.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to North Macedonia.

Mr. Vice President, we are deeply alarmed by the continued and systematic erosion of the fundamental rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. North Macedonia reaffirms that the rights of women and girls are universal and indivisible. The bans on secondary and higher education, severe restriction of women's employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life persist. The rights to health cannot be ensured without fully restoring the rights of women and girls. as well as the rights of all Afghans. We are equally concerned by the shrinking civic space, particularly targeting women human rights defenders. These are not isolated actions, but elements of an existing system of discrimination. Such measures undermine the core principles of human rights and entrench gender-based persecution with long-term consequences for Afghan society. No country can prosper while half of its population is excluded from education, economic life, health, and decision-making. We call on the de facto authorities to immediately reverse discriminatory policies and restore the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls in all spheres of life. Sustained monitoring, accountability, and strong support for Afghan civil society remain essential. The women and girls of Afghanistan deserve dignity, equality, and hope. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Switzerland.

Vice President of Switzerland thanks the panelists for their presentations, and also the Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner for their reports. The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan remains alarming. Their systematic exclusion from education, jobs, and public life are gender-based persecution, which is incompatible with international commitments assumed by Afghanistan. Their human rights, as well as their full, equal, and effective participation in decision-making, specifically decisions concerning them, must be guaranteed, as the women of Afghanistan write themselves. Afghan women are not asking for sympathy or solidarity. We are asking for action anchored in the UN's own principles. It is in this spirit that Switzerland commends the establishment of an independent international mechanism of inquiry. This tool is essential to preserve evidence and support efforts nationally, regionally, and internationally for justice, notably at the International Criminal Court, facilitating synergies with existing mechanisms in Geneva. We are also concerned by internet blackouts and restrictions on information. of which undermine freedom of expression, access to essential services, and humanitarian efforts. Panelists, how can the international community concretely shore up the impact of the Mechanism for Accountability whilst protecting civic space and access to information for the entire population?

Thank you very much. I give the floor to Turkey.

Thank you, Vice President. I thank the Special Rapporteur for his efforts. Afghanistan may no longer dominate the international agenda, yet its fragility remains deep and far-reaching. A stable Afghanistan at peace with itself and its region is in the collective interest of us all. Afghanistan lies at the heart of Asia, and we cannot afford to disengage nor lose interest. Türkiye stands in firm solidarity with the Afghan people, especially women and girls, whose courage and resilience endure despite immense hardship. Mr. Vice President, lasting stability requires inclusive governance. However, women and girls continue to face systematic repression. Fundamental rights, such as access to education, employment, and freedom of movement, remain severely restricted. Over 2 million girls are denied education beyond primary school. The recently adopted criminal procedure law represents a further setback. At the same time, the humanitarian crisis demands sustained and unconditional support. Humanitarian assistance must continue and free from inoperative political conditionalities. The failings of the interim government cannot and must not result in the collective punishment of the Afghan population through disrupted aid flows. Constructive engagement remains indispensable to encouraging meaningful and positive change in Afghanistan. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Mexico.

Mr. Vice President, we appreciate the reports from the Special Rapporteur and also from the High Commissioner's Office. We also appreciate the presentations from Madame Delisle and Koshnar. Mexico is in particular concerned over the intensification of the institutionalized violence against women and the entry into force of the new criminal code. We make a firm call for it to be rescinded. We are concerned over the lack of accountability and over the obstacles to accessing justice for persons that are at risk or in vulnerable situations. This includes people belonging to ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities. We firmly call for the elimination of the death penalty and corporal punishment, and for the overturning of legislation that goes against international obligations, and in particular, jus cogens norms such as the prohibition of slavery and torture. We also underscored the importance of multilateralism as a tool for building a safe, stable, and respectful Afghanistan, safe, stable, and respectful of human rights, that is. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what are the crime elements of a definition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity that could be incorporated into future convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity? Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the United Kingdom.

President, Special Rapporteur, we welcome your continued commitment to highlighting the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan. The UK fully supports your mandate. Taliban repression is intensifying. We are dismayed by the new criminal procedures directive, which entrenches religious discrimination, legitimizes violence against women and children, and further suppresses freedom of expression. These rules, alongside numerous other oppressive measures imposed by the Taliban, such as the ban on female medical education, must be rescinded if the rights of all Afghans are to be protected. We are also increasingly concerned about the severe impact of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border closure on the delivery of essential health and nutrition supplies. Delays in delivering these life-saving commodities are seriously affecting the lives of the most vulnerable. It is vital these goods are allowed to enter Afghanistan without obstruction. Special Rapporteur, what more can the international community do to prevent potentially catastrophic breaks in the delivery of essential aid and to promote every Afghan woman's right to health? Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Ireland.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ireland aligns with the statement of the EU and thanks the speakers for their reports and updates. Ireland condemns the reprehensible situation faced by Afghan women and girls. We are appalled by the Taliban’s complete erasure of women and girls from public life. The Taliban have issued over 110 decrees suppressing fundamental rights of women and girls. This institutionalised system of gender oppression and exclusion may amount to crimes against humanity, including gender persecution. We reiterate our calls on the Taliban to immediately reverse all decrees and uphold the human rights of Afghans. We condemn the abominable, systematic repression of the rights of women and girls, including the rights enshrined in the CRC and CEDAW, to which Afghanistan is a State party. The relentless silencing of dissent and victimization of marginalized communities, including the Hazara people and members of the LGBTIQ+ community, is deplorable. Those responsible must be held to account. We are extremely concerned by the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crises, compounded by the return of 5.4 million refugees since 2023. The systematic exclusion of women and girls from education and work, particularly in health care, and for the UN, also hampers crisis relief efforts. Special Rapporteur, how should international partners approach improving health accessibility for Afghan women and girls? I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to Malaysia.

Malaysia thanks the rapporteur for his report and aligns itself with the statement of the OIC. Malaysia remains concerned over the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the systematic restriction placed on women and girls.

We are particularly concerned by the impact of the new barriers which limit their access to health care as

well as their rights to receive medical education and training to serve the health care system. This is critical as healthcare remains one of the few areas where women are permitted to work. Such limitation will also further deteriorate Afghanistan's healthcare system. In short, barriers to access

healthcare, the shortage of female health workers, and reduced access to essential services will place many at greater risk.

Malaysia underscores the right to health cannot be viewed in isolation. It is closely intertwined with the other fundamental rights, including that of education, work, freedom of movement, and participation in society. Without this, women and girls will continue to face significant challenges in accessing basic services and

living a life with dignity.

Under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program, MTCP, Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Afghan people through wide-ranging technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the Dominican Republic.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Dominican Republic appreciates the reports from the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur. We also recognize the courage, the inspiring courage of Madams Dalil and Kochal for their presentations. Our country shares the deep concern over the serious, grave situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and in particular with the deterioration of the rights of women and girls. The reports presented today show the dramatic and intolerable realities that they face. This undermines the enjoyment of their fundamental freedoms and rights. The prohibitions on access to secondary university education, limits to their professions, restrictions on their participation in public and political life, as well as the permissiveness of violence against women are aspects that are completely unacceptable. We join the widespread call of the international community. urging the authorities in Afghanistan to ensure the full respect for the human rights of all of their population, and in particular, women, girls, and other groups in vulnerable situations. We reaffirm the importance of international cooperation and international solidarity in supporting this goal. Thank you kindly.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to UNICEF.

UNICEF remains deeply concerned about the worsening situation of children in Afghanistan, where multiple and overlapping crises continue to undermine their rights, safety, and development. A particularly severe and persistent violation is the continued denial of adolescent girls’ right to education. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary and higher education, leaving more than 2.2 million adolescent girls without access to learning beyond primary school. The ban on women's medical and midwifery education also remains in place, further weakening maternal and child health care. Meanwhile, restrictions on humanitarian access, particularly limitations placed on female aid workers and UN female national staff, continue to hinder the delivery of critical services to women and children. Adding to these challenges is the continued threat posed by unexploded ordnance. Every day, one to two Afghan children are killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance. In 2024 alone, over 490 children were affected. UNICEF urges the de facto authorities to lift all bans on girls' education, including secondary, higher, and medical training, and to guarantee full and unhindered humanitarian access, including access to UN female national staff to the UN premises. We further call on Member States to sustain advocacy on girls' education, humanitarian access, and to support mine action. We stand ready to support. Thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. That was the last speaker that we were able to accommodate this morning. We will now move to the list of speakers for NHRIs and NGOs. I give the floor to Madre NS Madre Inc. You have the floor.

Mr. Vice President, Special Rapporteur, High Commissioner, and distinguished delegates, good morning. The Gender Persecution in Afghanistan Accountability Working Group and the Afghanistan LGBTIQ+ organization, ALO, welcome the UN Special Rapporteur's report on women and girls' right to health in Afghanistan. The Taliban have systematically restricted women and girls' access to healthcare through bans on medical education, movement restrictions, and interference in sexual and reproductive health services. Maternal mortality is rising again, as are severe psychological problem and suicide among them. LBQ women and girls remained at heightened risk of discrimination, violence, and denial of confidential health services. The Taliban's new criminal procedure, quote, "further entrenches discrimination, reinforces impunity for violence against women and girls, and exposes LGBTI+ persons to arbitrary detention and violent punishment." Doha processes should not advance until basic rights are respected and gender persecution victims are meaningfully included. Therefore, we have the following recommendations: One, call for full access to quality, gender-responsive, and non-discriminatory health services, including SRHR services. Two, support the International Criminal Court's efforts to hold the Taliban accountable and initiative to bring Afghanistan before the International Court of Justice for rights violations, including on the basis of the Taliban's new criminal procedure code. And three, support the operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan to address systematic rights violations inside the country. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Human Rights Watch.

Mr. Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur for his comprehensive report on the Taliban’s systematic violation of women’s rights,

including the right to health.

The Taliban have recently passed a new criminal procedure code that further deepens repression and discrimination in Afghanistan. The new law defines Muslims exclusively as adherents of the Hanafi jurisprudence and labels other religious groups, including Shias, as heretics. It prescribes strict punishments to silence dissent and recognizes only excessive beating as domestic violence against women, leaving survivors of other forms of abuse with no protection or pathways to justice.

We urge UN member states to listen to the women and girls of Afghanistan, center their voices,

and to do more to protect their rights and advance accountability for gender persecution.

The new mechanism that this Council created last October will be a key

tool in holding perpetrators of grave abuses to account.

Member states and the UN

leadership should urgently operationalize it and ensure it has the necessary resources to fulfill its mandate.

In addition, states should recognize gender

treat it as a crimes against humanity,

support and protect ICC efforts to prosecute those responsible for gender persecution and other grave international crimes in Afghanistan, support

the initiative to hold the Taliban accountable for CEDAW violations, and pursue criminal cases through universal jurisdiction. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor now to Action for Development.

Mr. Vice President, we welcome the reports of the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, and we thank them for their continued engagement on the situation. The findings are of grave concern, especially the warnings of potential femicide risk associated with the ban on women’s medical education and the systematic nature of discrimination affecting women’s access to health and other rights. We are equally troubled by the impact of significant funding cuts, which are further straining an already fragile situation. Similar to the health sector, media workers are subjected to the more than 24 Taliban directives. And within, women journalists facing the harshest restrictions, something that urgently calls for unified international action. In the light of these findings, we underscore three recommendations. First, the independent investigation mechanism for Afghanistan should be immediately operationalized and provided with adequate funding. Second, efforts to address structural gender oppression should be advanced, including through codified gender apartheid and future crimes against humanity treaty. We encourage States to submit written amendments to the draft article by the April 30 deadlines in support of codification. Third, member States should increase direct assistance to the Afghan people to reduce the impacts of the crisis. Thank you.

Thank you. We will have a joint statement from the CoC Nederland.

MS. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and the opportunity to submit input detailing firsthand accounts of violations of the right to health suffered by LBT women. Lesbian, bisexual, and trans women in Afghanistan are criminalized under the law because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. They're ostracized by family, erased from public life by the Taliban, and excluded from support and protection systems meant to save lives. And yet, despite intensifying repression, funding for organizations that Work for protection of LGBT women is being cut. These funding cuts are not technical adjustments; they are the removal of lifelines. They mean fewer food distributions, fewer safe pathways, fewer chances to survive. A lesbian woman from Afghanistan reported, and I quote, “Every day I go out to buy bread, I look over my shoulder, afraid to be put in jail again, stripped of my dignity. I regret being born a woman.” This is one story of many that indicate the dire situation LBT women face if they cannot issue – if they cannot access inclusive and safe humanitarian support. It is the moral and ethical responsibility of the governments of this Council to act now and with urgency for the people who cannot afford to live or even survive under systematic oppression, suppression, and discrimination. We reiterate our main message: Restore funding to protect and support LGBQI people in Afghanistan. Protect resettlement pathways. Act now for justice, humanity, integrity, and credibility of this institution. Thank you.

Mr.

Thank you. For a joint statement, we'll now hear from Lawyers Rights Watch Canada.

Mr. President, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute deplore the further human rights deterioration in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the recent Taliban penal framework, which codifies repression as a legal duty, institutionalizes gender-based discrimination and violence, and bans women and girls from education, employment, and any meaningful participation in public life. We remain seriously concerned at the total disregard in and practice of Afghanistan's international human rights obligations, coupled with the broad discretionary powers exercised without independent judicial oversight and failure to respect fair trial guarantees. This increases risks for civil society, including legal professionals, human rights defenders, and journalists. particularly women who face intimidation, arbitrary detention, and torture. We are alarmed by insecurity faced by Afghan refugees stranded in neighboring states at risk at risk of forced returns. We urge this Council to insist on coordinated action to ensure accountability for international crimes and serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, ensure full operationalization of the Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, including the Voluntary Trust Fund. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Human Rights Research League.

Mr. Vice President, I speak as a human rights defender working directly with women from linguistic, ethnic, and religious minorities inside Afghanistan. What I share reflects lived realities shaped by poverty, sweeping restrictions, and systematic violence. The new criminal procedure code for courts legitimizes oppression based on social class, gender, and political beliefs. It justifies slavery and mandates execution of those who criticizes the Taliban. For many women, especially from minority communities, violations are not isolated in the incidents, but a constant condition. The loss of employment, education, and freedom of movement has deepened economic dependency, increased forces and child marriages, and intensified domestic violence and mental health crisis. When women, the sole provider for the three children was sexually harassed by a Taliban commander at her workplace. When she sought justice, she was dismissed and left without protection or income. Economic hardship is also driving families to force girls into early marriage. We urge the Council to reinforce accountability mechanism and sustain independent, evidence-based monitoring of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, and further engagement with the de facto to authorities should be strictly conditioned on measurable, verifiable progress in upholding international human rights obligations. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor now to Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Mr. President, in the recent months, Taliban have expanded the scope of their violence and oppression.

The so-called Criminal Procedure Code codifies its system for oppression and discrimination based on social status, gender, and religious belief. It legitimizes slavery. It prescribes mandatory executions for those who oppose it or possess different identities and ideologies, including the LGBTIQ community. Over the past four years, the Taliban have shown no intention of lifting bans on women and girls’ education or ending the criminalization of women’s gender identity, bodily autonomy, speech, and movement.

This system of exclusion of women and girls must be codified as gender apartheid.

Detention of journalists, Mahdi Ansari, Hamid Farhadi, and Nazira Rashidi for alleged propaganda is emblematic of the repression of media. Marginalized communities such as the Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Tajiks face land confiscation and discriminatory administrative rulings.

The ISKP attacks against the Hazaras and their persecution by the Taliban bear the.

Hallmarks of crimes under the Genocide Convention, while the Ismailis face forced religious conversion.

Mr. President, we welcome the creation of the Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan.

It opens crucial pathways for accountability for victims and survivors.

The mechanism and civil society must be supported fairly and financially. It is, however, not a substitute for political will to counter normalization of the Taliban. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to stitching global human rights defense.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. GHRD would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his continued reporting on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. We remain gravely concerned by the widespread and systematic violations of the rights of women and girls, which amount to an institutionalized system of gender-based discrimination. Women have been deliberately removed from public life, decision-making processes, and virtually all spheres of social, economic, and political participation. Restrictions on education, employment, freedom of movement, and access to public spaces have entrenched a system of gender apartheid. While all Afghan women are affected, marginalized groups of women face compounded and intersecting forms of discrimination. Women belonging to ethnic and religious minorities and women in rural and remote areas are disproportionately impacted. Moreover, barriers to access to justice and civil documentation continue to exacerbate their vulnerability, and the absence of independent judicial mechanisms leaves women without remedies. Meanwhile, impunity remains pervasive. JHRD therefore calls on this council and its member states to ensure sustained support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, to strengthen evidence collection mechanisms to document gender-based persecution, and to pursue accountability pathways that reflect the gravity and systematic character of these violations under international law. Thank you.

Mr. Gracias.

Thank you. Amnesty International is the first.

Mr. Vice President, the human rights and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Afghanistan, even as many countries continue to forcibly return millions of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, violating the principle of non-refoulement. Forced returns must stop immediately, and countries that have promised resettlement for at-risk Afghans should urgently process their applications for resettlement. We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report and its focus on women’s health. The Taliban have deprived women and girls of many of their rights and have increased restrictions on religious minorities seeking to freely practice their religious rituals. The Taliban continue to silence critical voices, including human rights defenders, journalists, and political opponents, through arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture, and unlawful detention. Many individuals, including members of the former government have been subjected to unlawful killings. The Taliban continue to issue decrees that violate Afghanistan’s international obligations. As donor countries reduce or withdraw aid, 21.9 million people – nearly half of the country’s population – remain dependent on international assistance. We urge the UN to accelerate the full operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan and for states to provide the resources needed for it to begin its task of collecting, preserving, and analyzing evidence of past and ongoing crimes under international law. We asked the Special Rapporteur how the international community can address the deepening human rights crisis and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, in particular to support Afghans inside the country and those fleeing. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Interfaith International.

Ms.

Mr. Vice President, Interfaith International thanks the Special Rapporteur, Richard Bennett, and the Office of the High Commissioner for their reports.

We remain deeply alarmed by the ongoing and systematic erosion of the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

The institutionalized discrimination documented in these reports reflect not isolated violations, but a widespread and deliberate dismantling of fundamental freedoms, including access to education, employment, health care, and participation in public life. From an interfaith perspective, we stress that no religion tradition justifies the denial of dignity, equality, or justice.

The marginalization of women and girls not only violates international human rights laws, but also undermines the social, economic, and.

Spiritual foundations of Afghan society. We welcome the focus on victims and survivors' perspectives on justice and redress. Accountability must remain central.

Without a meaningful pathway to justice, impunity will persist and suffering will deepen. Interfaith International calls upon the international community to sustain strong monitoring and reporting mechanisms, ensure that Afghan women’s voices remain central in all diplomatic and humanitarian engagement, and support initiatives to protect women human rights defenders, including those operating in exile. The rights of women and girls are not negotiable – they’re universal, indivisible, and non-derogable.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. That was the last speaker that we were able to include in this BID. I now give the floor to the panelists for their concluding remarks. You have three minutes each. Thank you. Madam Leena Koushal, you have the floor. Ms.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, The situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan is not only a crisis of health or education. It is a crisis of rights and humanity, and it demands a response that places women and girls at the front of every decision concerning my country. First, the international community must sustain and strengthen coordinated pressure on Taliban to reverse bans on girls’ secondary and higher education. including medical training. Access to education at all levels is a non-negotiable human right. It must remain central in all diplomatic engagement. Second, recognize and actively promote the essential role of women in Afghanistan's health sector. Women health workers are not optional. They are central to delivering care. building trust, and sustaining basic services. In any engagement with the Taliban, member states should constantly advocate for the full participation of women in health care and for immediate reception of medical education for women. The health consequences of exclusion are catastrophic not only for women and girls, but for entire populations. Third, increase funding for Afghan women and girls, and particularly by supporting women-led organizations. Invest in community-based and alternative learning pathways. Provide scholarships and education visas, and remote education opportunities. Support initiatives providing mental health and psychosocial support. Finally, include Afghan women and girls in all discussion about Afghanistan's future. Do not speak about us without us. Do not design policies for us without us. Our inclusion is not symbolic. It is strategic, necessary, and transformative. If you truly wish to support Afghanistan, start with its women and girls. Restore our right to learn, protect our right to work, uphold our right to lead. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Madam Soraya Dalil, you have the floor. Ms.

Mr. Vice President, members of this Council, in response to how best support women and girls in Afghanistan, I have three points. First, support Afghanistan’s civil society, especially women-led organizations and women health workers, who continue to serve on the front line. They need flexible and sustainable funding, protection, and professional support to continue their work safely and effectively. Second, ensure that women are meaningfully included in all discussions on Afghanistan’s humanitarian, political, and development. Third, support international justice mechanisms, politically and financially, to ensure investigation, evidence collection, preservation, and prosecution carried out. These mechanisms must be survivor-centered, prioritizing the needs, safety, and dignity of survivors throughout the process. In particular, violations affecting health and access to healthcare must be systematically investigated, documented, and addressed. The Taliban's new criminal procedure code is yet another example of how the Taliban is enforcing its extreme ideology on the people of Afghanistan. This code replaces law with ideology, trust with suspension, suspension and justice with punishment based on social ranking, which the code has defined. As a result, families are transformed into enforcement units, communities into surveillance network, and citizens into instruments of repression. It shows more clearly that the Taliban are not interested in moderating or respecting Afghanistan's human rights obligations. Mr. Vice President. You have heard today the voices of women at different stages of their careers in health, from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences, ambitions, and journeys shaped by shared challenges. Yet, we share one common dream. Lima and I, and our fellow sisters, we share one common dream: an Afghanistan where women and girls are treated equally and fully enjoy their rights. This is not only our dream, it's the dream of millions of women and girls in the country, and those who stand with them. Health, education, equality, and dignity belong to every woman and every girl. Stand with us. amplify our efforts, turn words into action and commitment into change. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Nasser Ahmad Nandishan.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. The reports by High Commissioner and Special Rapporteur presented today make clear that the current trajectory is dangerous and is life-threatening. Without urgent intervention, Afghanistan faces a long-term collapse of its health care system, education, and justice systems with intergenerational consequences. I therefore call upon the international community to: One, sustain and expand humanitarian and health funding. in a manner that ensures direct, safe, and equitable access for women, girls, and marginalized communities, as well as prevent for the collapse of essential services. Number two, maintain the international engagement that prioritizes the restoration of fundamental rights, particularly the rights of women and girls to education, mobility, participation, and access to healthcare. Three. ensure full political, technical, and financial support for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan so that the violations are documented and preserved, and the perpetrators are held accountable. Mr. Vice President, let me conclude by saying that after five years of Taliban’s brutal rule, the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is widespread, systemic, structural, and permeates all areas of life of our people. Still calling on the Taliban, or under the current structure, as rightly underscored by the President of the General Assembly, Madam Annalena Borbäck, from this podium, is futile, naive, and self-destructive. deceiving. But we think that this crisis can be addressed and prevented through international and regional cooperation, our intentional action, collective condemnation, and empowering women and civil society in Afghanistan. Mr. Vice President, health is dignity, autonomy, safety, and ability to exist without fear. And to this Council, I urge you to acknowledge the suffering of our people and protect their rights, dignity, and hope. Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. Mr. Richard Bennett, you have the floor.

Vice President, thank you, and I offer my thanks to member states and civil society organizations for your interventions and questions, which I'll do my best to respond to in groups. Regarding the criminal rules of courts, also known as Decree 12, they raise profound human rights concerns, as many of you have noted, due to their lack of due process protections, establishment of a social hierarchy according to which punishments are awarded according to class, Instead of the seriousness of the offence, an expanded use of corporal and capital punishment, authorizing private persons to carry out punishment, violence against women appears to be legalized. The rules allow for broad and arbitrary arbitration and will lead to disproportionate impacts on at-risk and vulnerable groups. They intensify the Taliban's violence and discrimination against women, further entrench criminalization of LGBT+ people. risk disproportionately impacting minority and marginalized communities, including ethnic and religious communities, and even refer to slavery, raising concerns that it may be deemed permissible. Some asked about openings for humanitarian aid. These are, and for supporting the health system, these are included in my recommendations in my report. But to add, first, it's essential to consult with and listen directly to the people of Afghanistan to understand their needs, priorities, and local realities, especially those of women and girls and marginalized communities. Donors must commit to long-term, flexible funding that can adapt to changing conditions. This does not compromise transparency or accountability. Rigorous monitoring and reporting remain crucial. Finally, aid should prioritize Afghan actors, including women-led organizations and health workers, who have the knowledge, trust, and presence to reach communities even under difficult conditions. On accountability and related issues, the international community, including myself, have shared responsibilities that cannot be ignored to resist normalizing injustice, to prioritize the rights and safety of victims over politics, to avoid emboldening or empowering the Taliban, to confront past failures, to create spaces for Afghans to speak and actively, meaningfully, safely engage in discussions about their future, and to ensure accountability for serious crimes and human rights violations. I reiterate my call for the prompt operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism and reiterate my support also for the codification of gender apartheid. Above all, it's necessary to use every tool at our disposal to make a difference. Anything less is a betrayal of the Afghan people and a failure of our shared humanity and human rights values. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Bennett. I now invite Madame Isly Branzkerif, the Deputy Secretary General for Human Rights, to offer concluding remarks.

After this powerful interactive dialogue, it's so clear that the gravity of situation and the increasing deterioration that we're seeing in the human rights situation obviously warrants coming together and looking for very concrete actions that need to be taken to improve the situation, to ensure full meaningful participation by the entire population, specifically the focus on women and girls, of course, but also minorities, and to change the trajectory, help to change the trajectory of the Taliban current direction. There, of course, we also have talked about the international community, all of us together with the different roles Richard just said, but also the the side of member states with influence to be able to provide that pressure as well for that to actually happen and not to be naively only spoken about. The monitoring and public reporting is very important. We advocate, as the Office of the High Commissioner, for a comprehensive approach with that part of it, but also to have the appropriate engagement with the de facto authorities and obviously to strengthen civil society, as has been mentioned so many times. The accountability that has been a big focus here is, of course, essential. Without it, we will not be able to move ahead, and also there is no future without it. for violations and abuses that have taken place. We have the references to the ICC, of course. We also have the universal jurisdiction, extraterritorial jurisdiction, all the means necessary. But in particular, of course, you have here mentioned, as you should, the Council adopted a decision on the establishment of the Independent Investigative Mechanism. Our office is working to operationalize it, and this is something that will be an absolutely key institution for both judicial and non-judicial context, I would say. So I would also urge member states, many have said it already, to really provide voluntary contributions to the trust fund, which was requested by this council as well, to make sure that we can proceed with adequate speed on this. For the decree 12, the information was just given in a very comprehensive way. But so just to say that we also have in UNAMA and the Human Rights Service, we will continue to monitor the implementation of the decree. We will also engage with the de facto authorities through the Human Rights Service on individual cases, on human rights violations, and on the obligations of Afghanistan as well. But more information on the implementation of the decree will be included in the upcoming reports to the Human Rights Council. We do also more broadly, of course, do the monitoring based on the Security Council mandate there, and that information will be provided. We are out of time, so I will only mention, of course, the access to and the continuing and increased assistance that is necessary on the humanitarian front. Again, the civil society support, the focus was, of course, on Afghan civil society and the action support for also women in Afghanistan and outside, but civil society, the space for women and girls, minorities to be created. And very – I will finish on the plea and urging of members to call on Member States to refrain from forced returns of Afghans at risk. There have been reports on this from any country, because there are very extreme circumstances, as we know, and there is a very clear obligation to observe the principle of non-refoulement. With this, I thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much. This brings us to the end of this enhanced interactive dialogue. I wish to thank the High Commissioner and all presenters for their participation. Thank you to Madam Deputy Secretary General as well. We will now take a short technical break before starting with the EID on human rights in the Sudan. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, may I request all?

Delegations to show respect to speakers and to cooperate in keeping the noise level down in this room.

EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES: Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we will now proceed with the enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan. combined with the dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the expert on human rights in Sudan pursuant to Council Resolutions S/38/1 and 57/2. It is my honor to welcome to the podium Mr. Volker Turk, the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights. It is also my honor to welcome the distinguished members of the fact-finding mission for the Sudan, Mr. Mohamed Chande Othman, Ms. Joy Ngosi Esailo, and Ms. Mona Rishmawi. I also welcome Mr. Radwane Noussir, the designated expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan. and also Mr. Moneim Adam, the program director of Sudan Human Rights Hub. The list of speakers will be closed in 15 minutes. I now give the floor to Mr. Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, to present his report. Mr.

TURK: Muchas gracias, señor Vicepresidente.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President.

Nearly three years of brutal conflict have almost turned Sudan into a land of despair. The report I am presenting today is yet another chapter in the chronicle of cruelty. It outlines clear, ongoing patterns of violence against civilians, including killings, rape, and torture. As the fighting has intensified, violations of international law by all parties to the conflict have surged. while accountability has remained practically absent. In 2025, my office's documentation points to an over two and a half times increase in killings of civilians compared with the previous year. Many thousands are still missing or unidentified. Both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have continued to use explosive weapons in densely populated areas, often without warning, showing utter disregard for human life. The parties attack schools, hospitals, markets, and religious sites in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The increased use of advanced, long-range drones has expanded harm to civilians in areas far from the front lines, that were previously peaceful. The parties, predominantly the RSF, repeatedly used drones to strike critical infrastructure, including power stations, dams, and fuel storage tanks, with enormous impacts on civilians, and I could witness this myself when I visited Sudan earlier this year. An attack by the RSF on electrical infrastructure in Kosti, White Nile, early last year crippled water treatment systems, allowing cholera to spread like wildfire. The bodies of Sudanese women and girls have been weaponized to terrorize communities. In 2025, we identified over 500 victims of sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture, and slavery. in some cases resulting in death. And when I was in Sudan earlier this year, I listened to the harrowing testimonies of at least ten of them. We also documented a sharp rise in summary executions of civilians who were often accused of collaboration with the other side. Large-scale arbitrary detention is another tool of intimidation used by both parties and their allied militias. In territories controlled by the SAF, civilians were arrested and convicted without due process or fair trial, with many proceedings resulting in death sentences or life imprisonment. In RSF-controlled areas, no formal justice system operates. In both cases, detainees were subjected to torture and ill-treatment and were held in inhumane, overcrowded conditions, leading to outbreaks of deadly diseases, and the loss of hundreds of lives. We have documented particularly sharp spikes in retaliatory violence against civilians when control of an area changed hands. The RSF's capture of Sam-Sam camp in April and its offensive on Al-Fasher in October unleashed carnage that claimed thousands of lives, amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. People were killed, raped, abducted, and tortured, including along escape routes with bodies piling up on roadsides. I warned about the risks facing Al-Fashir many times, but the massacre was not prevented. As the epicenter of the war shifts to the Kordofan region, I am extremely worried these crimes may be repeated, because these are patterns of heinous, ruthless brutality. We are already seeing a worrying escalation in drone strikes and blockades by both RSF and the SAF in Kordofan and beyond, including on humanitarian aid convoys. Since 1 January, these attacks have killed or injured nearly 600 civilians. Mr. Vice President, The shockwaves of this war are hitting hardest those who are the least able to withstand them. The situation of people with disabilities is harrowing, and their number increases with every attack. They are forced to flee without support or access to food, health care, or shelter, and are often subjected to harassment. Targeted attacks against health and aid workers, humanitarian convoys, and food supplies all protected under international law, are cutting the last lifelines and exacerbating one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises. Thirteen million children are out of the classroom as schools are bombed, converted to military use, or closed. I'm very concerned about the growing militarization of society, including the recruitment of children and young people to participate in hostilities. This is a scourge that must end. Militarization is also eroding civic space. Both parties have suppressed dissent, attacked journalists and human rights defenders, and restricted freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly. Hate speech and dehumanizing rhetoric are tearing at the seams of already fragmented communities. In North Kordofan, for example, we have documented calls to kill peace activists, amplified on social media. The cumulative impact of these violations entrenches discrimination and inflicts generational trauma, preparing for more violence to come. Mr. Vice President, this war is ugly, it's bloody, and it's senseless. I cannot help but wonder how those driving or benefiting from this madness, both inside and outside the country, can sleep at night. If much of the international community continues to act as a passive bystander, then something is fundamentally wrong with our collective moral compass. I implore all parties to the conflict to put their people and their country first. All attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop immediately. States must press the parties to uphold their obligations under international law, to protect civilians, and to ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. I call on them to ensure full compliance with the arms embargo in Darfur and to prevent arms supplies to the entire territory of Sudan. This is a high-tech war supported by foreign sponsors. During my visit in January, I personally witnessed the devastation caused by modern, sophisticated weaponry that continues to flow into the country. We must reverse this flow, let aid in, and keep weapons out. War is never total chaos. It follows its own logic, the logic of profit for those who wage it and for those who benefit from it in a proxy battle for resources. What we are seeing is the grievance of many, driven by the greed of a few. States and all those with influence must take action against individuals and companies benefiting from this horrific situation. I note the recent sanctions imposed by the Security Council, as well as at the national and regional levels, against people linked to atrocities committed in Al-Fashir, including commanders. All those responsible for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, regardless of rank or affiliation, must be held to account. Impunity has fueled this violence for far too long. All states must do their utmost to ensure justice for all victims, including through universal jurisdiction. This also includes advocating for a referral by the Security Council of the situation in the whole of Sudan to the International Criminal Court. We urgently need stronger diplomatic and political pressure to push the parties towards a humanitarian truce that leads to a permanent ceasefire, and this must be followed by peace negotiations and a transition to inclusive civilian rule. To all those who want to see this war end, my office is at your disposal. We have shared with both parties our proposals on human rights confidence-building measures that that would help protect civilians, build trust, and support mediation efforts. Mr. Vice President, I said earlier that this conflict has almost turned Sudan into a land of despair. But I need to correct myself. What holds that despair back is the strength and the spirit of the Sudanese people, particularly women and youth. During my visit, I saw this spirit remains undimmed. They will prevail. That is inevitable. The only question is how much time and suffering it will take. It is up to all of us to take the action needed to minimize both.

Thank you.

Thank you very much to the High Commissioner. I now give the floor to the panelists. for their introductory presentations. You have five minutes each. I give the floor to Mr. Mohammed Chande Othman so that he might present the fact-finding mission report. Thank you. Mr.

OTHMAN: Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, our participation today is in response to the Human Rights Council's request for us to do so during the emergency session. The situation in Al Fashir exhibits clear hallmarks of genocide by the Rapid Support Forces. At least three underlying acts of genocide are overwhelmingly present: mass killings, causing serious bodily and mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction in whole or in part of the protected Zagawa and Fur communities. First, the mission documented widespread and systematic killings of civilians and persons hors de combat across the city at exit points, berms, escape routes, and places of shelter, including Al-Fashir University and Al-Saudy Hospital. Men were separated and shot in groups. survivors hid among the dead to avoid execution. At Al-Saudi Hospital alone, more than 460 people are estimated to have been killed, including patients, doctors, and wounded persons. Fighters searched hospital wards, executed men in front of their families, declaring, "We want to destroy you all." Video recorded and circulated by perpetrators show executions accompanied by ethnic slurs. Survivors recount statements such as, "Is there anyone Zagawa among you? If we find Zagawa, we will kill them all," and "We want to eliminate anything black from Darfur." Second, serious bodily and mental harm was inflicted through widespread, systematic, and ethically targeted sexual violence. Women and girls, primarily from the Zagawa community, were subjected to rape, gang rape, mutilation, abduction, and sexual slavery, often in front of family members and amid mass killings. Perpetrators used dehumanizing language and asserted ownership over victims. This violence also attacked both the bodies and the identity of identified communities. The mission also documented torture, arbitrary detention, and forced disappearances, and extortions. Thousands remain missing. Survivors continue to suffer profound trauma and require urgent, sustained support. Thirdly, over an 18-month siege culminating last October. The rapid support forces encircled Al Fashir, cut off food, water, and medical supplies, and obstructed humanitarian assistance, and subjected civilians to relentless shelling. Berms and checkpoints trapped the population, and starvation was instrumentalized as a weapon of war. Based on the scale and patterns of conduct, the systematic targeting and explicit calls for extermination, The only reasonable inference we were able to draw is that the Rapid Response Forces acted with genocidal intent against the Zaghawa and the Foul. These acts also constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. These crimes reflect continuity and escalation of patterns of violence, and the risk spreading further, including into Kordofan. With urgent -- without urgent protection and credible accountability, The risk for further genocidal violence remains grave and ongoing. Thank you very much.

Mr.

Thank you very much. The list of speakers is now closed. I now give the floor to Mr. Moneim Adam.

Thank you so much, Mr. Vice President. distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen: It is my great honor today to speak to the Council, as the Sudanese people have been waiting for this Council to do more to stop the suffering of the Sudanese people everywhere, especially in Sudan and elsewhere in the IDPs and refugee camps. The devastating conflict The devastating conflict in Sudan affected the majority of the Sudanese people, leading to the family being scattered in the IDP camps across Sudan and in the borders, international borders, of neighboring countries. I am one of the fortunate Sudanese who are not experiencing this war in Sudan, but my family was not. Unfortunately, my family, among others, are scattered across more than six countries of the neighboring countries. The physical impact of the war on our families is massive, but the psychological impact is imposed on all of us, Sudanese in Sudan, in the neighboring countries, and as well even on the people who are supporting or working on Sudan. Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the war is rapidly approaching its fourth year for most of our calendars. But this war actually happening in for the memory of the Sudanese, especially the IDP camps in Darfur, for more than 20 years. They never experienced peace throughout these years. Sexual violence, and especially conflict-related sexual violence, genocidal intent, ethnic targeting of communities, has been perpetrated throughout these years, along with heinous crimes have been systematically perpetrated in Darfur since 2003. The situation in al-Fashir. mirrored this documentation even captured by the cameras of the perpetrators themselves. We have verified thousands of image, open source, that shown the ethnic intent targeting ethnic minorities and the intent from RSF to kill people. We managed to verify evidence shown the moment that the person was asked to respond about their ethnicity, the moment they declare their ethnicity or they mention that, they shoot them from a very close proximity. Mr. Vice President, ladies and gentlemen, the enduring absence of accountability for this war for more than 20 years, in fact, helped perpetrators to commit crimes, not only in al-Fajr, but actually in the beginning of this current war, in al-Junaynah and in other places that we've seen in Al Jazeera, both of them by armed forces from SAF and RSF. I would like to end with really a comment from the IDP community, because they are not present here, but I want their voice to be heard here today. And allow me to share this in Arabic.

Mr. Adam Rujab conveys the sufferings of the IDPs in cold season under tents that cannot protect them, neither from winter nor from the summer. IDPs in Darfur lead a life between -- scattered between fear and deprivation. They were uprooted from their land, from their memory. They were pushed into overcrowded camps where they -- where we hear the sufferings and the cries of the babies, witnessing unsecure future. Solidarity is a must, but they face weak humanitarian assistance. Children are facing poverty, deprivation from food, hunger, and malnutrition is not only a matter of being hungry, but also being most vulnerable to diseases, to cold at night. They do not have anything to protect them from the cold of the night, and their cries are intensified. Displacement is only losing your land, but also losing your dignity. IDPs are represented in terms of numbers, cold numbers. However, every number carries the life of a child, of a mother, of a father. This tragedy is not a destiny. It is the direct result of violence, neglect, and failure of human conscience. What IDPs need is not only food and medicine. They need true and authentic solidarity that recovers their sense of dignity and humanity. Let the voices of those who live under the tents reach the world to remind us that humanity fails when our conscience fails. Thank you.

I thank the panelists. I thank the panelists for their remarks. In step with the practice of the Council, we’ll begin by giving the floor to the delegation of the country concerned. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan. You have five minutes. As I understand it, you have requested to divide these five minutes in three parts: three minutes and then two at the end – in two sections, three in the beginning and two at the end. For this reason, you have the floor for three minutes at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. We would like to thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We are happy to approve a large part of the report, notably with respect to the accusations against the terrorist militia rebels who have committed violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. These militia groups have indeed committed unimaginable horrors. We thank the High Commissioner for the visit to Sudan. And we are also grateful for him listening carefully to both survivors and victims. However, we are also somewhat disappointed to note that the report places on a parity basis the national army, the legitimate armed force, which is working to restore peace, security, and the rule of law in the country, and which is working to rebuild territorial integrity and national unity in compliance with Article 3 of the Second Protocol of the Geneva Conventions. So this has been placed on an equal footing with a rebel terrorist group. Our army consists of security forces, officers, even a warning service, which informs the local population, civilians, of all military activities so that they can take shelter and remain safe, and also intelligence officers. The National Commission of Inquiry, charged with investigating violations of International Law and Human Rights has drawn up clear statistics with respect to complaints lodged or submitted to justice instances with respect to incidents that took place. And so the number of complaints lodged against the militia has been around 44,000. Most of them were brought to tribunals. However, around 6,000 – 6,600 complaints concerned the militias, and just 241 complaints were lodged against the regular armed forces. At El Fasher and in the north of Kordofan, the Government has been notified of incidents, has focused on those incidents, and sent assistance, various forms of resources, including psychological assistance and food, even during a time of reduced international assistance. We continue to cooperate with the regional bureau of the High Commissioner, the human rights expert in Sudan, and other UN bodies, and we are fully committed to continuing our path towards compensating victims and bringing justice.

Thank you very much. I now invite the delegations interested in making their statements. and interested in asking questions, if they so wish, to the panelists to do so. I will begin by giving the floor to Sweden, who will speak on behalf of a group of countries. Please.

Thank you, Vice President, and all briefers on the panel. It's hard to find the right words after your chilling briefs. But I speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries. The FFM report entitled Sudan Hallmarks of Genocide in El Fasher documents that RSF, in October last year, committed serious violations of IHL and international human rights law amounting to international crimes. We are appalled by the indiscriminate violence and deliberate mass killings of civilians, torture, arbitrary detentions, sexual and gender-based violence, attacks against humanitarian assistance and workers, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. The most recent FFM report comes on top of credible reports that SAF and RSF have committed war crimes, and that RSF has committed crimes against humanity. Perpetrators must be brought to justice and held accountable. We call on all parties to cease hostilities immediately, seek a sustainable, peaceful resolution to the conflict, and to respect IHL as well as international human rights law. We further urge states to support the High Commissioner’s call to expand the ICC’s jurisdiction to all crimes committed throughout the Sudan. The El Fashir reports highlight the need to end the supply of arms to the parties of the conflict in light of ongoing human rights violations and serious violations of IHL. How can states best support the High Commissioner’s Office and the FFM in this endeavor? I thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor this time to the European Union.

Mr. President, High Commissioner, the EU thanks for your comprehensive update and reiterates SAAF, RSF, and their allied militias must stop the fighting and unlawful attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian operations. All parties, and the RSF in particular, are accused of committing flagrant violations and abuses. There must be accountability. We urge all external actors that are supplying arms or support to the warring parties to immediately cease and to comply with the UN arms embargo, and call for its extension to the whole of Sudan. Members of the FFM, your report entitled Hallmarks of Genocide in Al-Fashir indicates the deliberate targeting of people based on their ethnic origin through acts of extreme violence, meant to inflict suffering and pain with the intention of destroying the effective communities. The EU is deeply alarmed by the events in El Fasher, as well as the ongoing escalation in Kordofan, which raises the risk of similar massacres occurring again. We call for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a process towards a lasting settlement. Civilian political forces will remain key in ending the conflict and for Sudan's future. Commissioners, what steps are needed to prevent these crimes from being repeated in Kordofan? Thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor at this time to Kenya on behalf of a group of African states.

Mr. Vice President, the African Group reiterated its unwavering solidarity with the people of South Sudan in this difficult time. We took note of the reports of the OCHR and fact-finding mission on situation in Sudan. We closely monitored the horrible development in Al-Fashir during the military takeover by Rapid Support Forces militia in October 2025, which resulted in an unprecedented human rights and humanitarian catastrophe. We condemn in the strongest terms possible the criminal activities and violations against civilians perpetrated by RSF. and call on the leader of RSF to uphold international humanitarian law. We urge all Sudanese parties to continue their dialogue towards amicable, consensual solution to the political impasse in Sudan and the lead to the country's smooth and peaceful transition to democracy. We strongly condemn any external interference in Sudan, which is fueling the Sudanese conflict in flagrant violation of all relevant African Union PSC communications and UNSC resolutions. We call the importance of the principles of complementarity and the African solutions for the African problems. The group welcomes the regional mediation efforts and initiatives to solve the crisis in Sudan. We also welcome all supporting efforts to the negotiation by the regional international actors. We reaffirm the need for a single, coordinated international effort to resolve the crisis in Sudan under the auspices of the AU, together with IGAD, with the support of the UN, League of Arab States, and the key international partners, and based on the AU roadmap for the resolution of the Sudan crisis. In this regard, the group refers to the welcoming of the AU and the IGAD to the initiatives of peaceful presented by the government of Sudan at the United Nations Security Council on December 2nd, 2025, and reiterated the principle of African solution to African problems. At this stage, we are of the view that the immediate and utmost priority is to silence the guns and achieve the ceasefire, paving the way to humanitarian relief. We urge parties to implement Jeda Agreement to ensure protection of civilians and humanitarian aid delivery in Sudan. We ask the international community to provide all necessary support to Sudan. The group appreciates the cooperation of the Government of Sudan with OHCHR and the UN Designated Expert, and asks it to continue that cooperation. We ask OHCHR to continue its technical assistance to Sudan. The group emphasizes its continued commitment to the respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and political unity of Sudan, and its belief that states have the primary responsibility for promotion and protection of human rights. The content of the country remains a crucial element for the success of the vision of mandate of any mechanism as established by HRC or any expansion of the mandate existing. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I give the floor at this time to the United Arab Emirates.

Thank you, Mr. President. The United Arab Emirates has followed with great detail the reports of the High Commissioner and the International Fact-Finding Mission, which detail the ongoing and horrifying atrocities affecting the Sudanese population. We wish to underscore our unequivocal condemnation of all violations committed against civilians by the RSF in Al-Fashir, as well as by both warring parties across Sudan. Amid the horrifying widespread atrocities, the UAE particularly expresses grave alarm at the pervasive and systematic acts of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by both warring parties. We will continue to call for an immediate cessation of these violations and urge the international community to take concrete, decisive measures to ensure the protection of women and girls in Sudan. The UAE stresses the necessity of ensuring rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan. Since the start of the war, the UAE became the second largest humanitarian donor in Sudan. The QUAD’s efforts, led by the U.S., coupled with the peace plan for Sudan, are essential to paving the way for a transitional process that is independent of the warring parties and extremist groups, and aligned with the aspirations of the Sudanese people for an independent, civilian-led government. And I thank you, Mr. President.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Vice President. This Council mandated the fact-finding mission to investigate the siege and takeover of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces. Its findings are horrific and should shock the conscience of all of us. The evidence of RSF atrocities is overwhelming: civilians forced to choose between starvation and eating animal feed; children subjected to mass rape; families ambushed and killed as they flee; perpetrators calling for extermination. The fact-finding mission warns that the RSF violence in El Fashir bears the hallmarks of genocide, a chilling assessment that we cannot and must not ignore. As our Foreign Secretary stated, urgent international action is essential if these crimes are to be halted and victims to have justice. The flow of weapons into Sudan must stop. The warring parties must come to the table in good faith. Today, ministers of foreign affairs from the Sudan Core Group have announced the formation of a new Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan. We urge all members and all countries to join us in pursuing greater protection for civilians and support for those laying the foundations for healing and justice. Mr. President, the world is still failing the people of Sudan. We cannot allow them to endure this war alone. They deserve peace and justice. They have waited long enough. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Qatar.

Thank you, Vice President. We have a consistent position of support for the people of Sudan and their right to live in peace and security. We must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of this country. We are deeply concerned by the continuing war that has brought the end of thousands of Sudanese lives and driven millions into exile. These people can no longer survive the current situation. They have waited too long for a peaceful solution. Dialogue is the only way to achieve this in order that Sudan can return to peace and security. We have always supported Sudan by all means available, whether it is humanitarian or technical assistance. Last February 9th, we sent a medical humanitarian convoy in cooperation with the Qatari Red Cross. This was a way of providing medication that is critically needed, and thousands of lives could thus be saved. Thousands of patients received assistance from this convoy. Unfettered access is needed to provide assistance to all Sudanese people. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to UNICEF. through it with a video statement.

Mr. President, UNICEF welcomes the report and thanks the mission for its continued work. The findings presented to this Council confirm what children in Sudan are enduring every day: a relentless assault on their rights, safety, and future. Shelling and other attacks in populated areas, including with drones, are placing children and the civilian infrastructure they rely on at risk. In recent months alone, hundreds of children have reportedly been killed or injured as violence intensifies. Across Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, and other areas in Sudan, children are bearing the brunt of grave violations, including killing and maiming, recruitment and use, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access. The scale and severity of these grave violations against children continue to rise at an alarming rate since the conflict began. This protection crisis is compounded by catastrophic levels of malnutrition and the collapse of essential services. Health facilities have been damaged or forced to close, water systems disrupted, and disease outbreaks are spreading. UNICEF echoes the call for all parties to immediately cease attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, respect international humanitarian and human rights law, and allow and facilitate safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access.

Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Canada is gravely concerned by the critical reports of the fact-finding mission, the High Commissioner, and the designated expert. Documentation of mass killings, identity-motivated harm, widespread sexual violence, and other grave abuses and violations amount to evidence of an escalating campaign of brutality, Protection for civilians is needed now more than ever. Canada underscores the urgent need for full cooperation with and access for the fact-finding mission and OHCHR. Their work, including collecting and preserving evidence, is vital to address impunity. We further call on all parties to cease violations and abuses. that impedes civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers whose ability to operate freely is

essential for justice and accountability.

Recent drone strikes on humanitarian convoys and infrastructure have caused significant casualties and destroyed life-saving aid for communities already facing starvation. Canada reiterates the need for a permanent ceasefire and the importance of stemming the flow of arms that

continue to fuel this conflict.

We urge all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, allowing and facilitating rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. The future of Sudan must rest in the hands of the people and the restoration of a civilian-led government.

Je vous remercie.

I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the Netherlands.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, Madam Deputy High Commissioner. We commend the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for their report on the human rights situation in El Fashir and Sudan.

The Netherlands is deeply dismayed by the findings laid out in these reports.

We strongly condemn the horrific acts described in the report of the fact-finding mission, which include targeted mass killings, rampant sexual and gender-based violence, and serious bodily and mental harm inflicted at a shocking scale on civilians in El Fasher.

The fact-finding mission concludes that the acts of the

RSF and their allies in El Fasher bear the hallmarks of genocide. The Netherlands is deeply concerned about the fate of the remaining civilians in El Fasher, who continue to be subjected to violence and are deprived of essential support. We call upon the warring parties to agree on an immediate ceasefire, to fulfil their duties under international humanitarian law, and to fully cooperate with the fact-finding mission, granting it unhindered access to all regions of Sudan. There must be thorough, transparent, and independent investigations and accountability. Holding perpetrators accountable lays a foundation for justice and sustainable peace. For this reason, and to push for the protection of civilians,

The ministers of foreign affairs from the Sudan core group have announced today the formation of a new coalition for

atrocity prevention and justice in Sudan, as my colleague from the United Kingdom said. We urge all of you to join this in pursuing these goals. As High Commissioner, let me just finish with this. The widespread human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law must end. What actions can be taken to ensure the protection of civilians, of the people who have fled from El Fasher to Tabila and elsewhere? Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Eritrea.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

As a close neighbor of Sudan, we seek and stress for a genuine and comprehensive resolution to this horrific conflict that has claimed thousands of innocent lives and uprooted millions. We continue to urge for a Sudanese-led path forward, grounded in good faith and without any externally driven political agendas. What we have been witnessing more recently are actions by certain actors that risk further escalation of this war. We reiterate that external interferences continue to further exacerbate the conflict and must cease immediately. We regret the boat report's attempt to create equivalence between RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces by introducing misleading language. My delegation stated a few weeks ago that a credible consideration of the crisis in Sudan should primarily acknowledge the root causes of the conflict and unequivocally condemn the heinous crimes perpetrated against civilians and Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Neither enumerating the numbers of casualties nor describing the nature and patterns of the atrocities will culminate the conflict. We urge the international community to take decisive action to end the human catastrophe unfolding in Sudan. Diplomatic initiatives or routine session that overlook the aspirations of the Sudanese people and the realities on the ground will only aggravate the crisis. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Peru. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Peru, thanks, thy Commissioner and the International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan for their reports. Given these, Peru reiterates its deepest concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the human rights situation in this country, and in particular in and around El Fasher. The report covers an alarming panorama of human rights violations and abuses committed against the civilian population, and likewise serious transgressions of IHL enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and its additional protocols. Peru strongly condemns all acts that include summary executions, sexual violence, recruiting of children, arbitrary detention, indiscriminate use of explosives in populated areas, Deliberate attacks on hospitals, markets, schools, among others. Peru calls upon the parties to conflict to meet their obligations under IHL and international human rights law, in particular that they protect the civilian population and their infrastructure. ensuring safe passage to those which to abandon the zones of conflict, ensuring access to humanitarian support for the population. We also would like to reiterate our urgent call for an immediate ceasefire and that an inclusive dialogue process take place with due support regionally and internationally. It should lead to a peaceful, sustainable, and lasting solution to the conflict. I thank you.

Thank you very much. That was the last speaker. We were able to accommodate this morning. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of our meeting. We will meet anew this afternoon at 1430 hours to continue our interactive dialogue, our EID, on human rights in Sudan. We will be following this with an interactive dialogue on the report from the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. I close this eighth meeting of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.

Gracias.

Thank you.