#HRC50 statement by Shaharzad Akbar on the human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan
Channel: ISHRGlobal
Date: 2022-07-01

' Your Excellencies, I want to thank this Council for holding an urgent debate on the human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

I want you to imagine for a few seconds that you are an Afghan woman living in Afghanistan now.

You cannot leave your house without a male minder.

You are excluded from public gatherings and political decision-making.

You can only go to parks on designated days of the week.

Your access to lifesaving health care is restricted.

You cannot access your workplace.

Your daughter cannot attend secondary school.

You have no legal remedy if you face domestic abuse.

And many more restrictions.

And in addition to all of this, you are very likely to be hungry due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

What can you, as members of the council, do to illustrate solidarity in action with the Afghan women in the face of this horrific oppression?

You must endorse a strong resolution that:
• requests regular monitoring and reporting by relevant Special Rapporteurs and mechanisms on the human rights situation of Afghanistan to this Council;
• calls on UNAMA to strengthen its monitoring and public reporting on human rights;
• commits to ensuring sufficient resources for the SR on Afghanistan;
• and addresses the need for additional accountability mechanisms.

Thank you.'
- Shaharzad Akbar, a former chairperson for Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission