Recognizing the growing threats against women and children, religious and ethnic minorities, and LGBTQI persons in Afghanistan and against allies of such individuals, such as civil society leaders and activists, scholars, former government officials, journalists, and media workers, and expressing solidarity with and reaffirming the dire need to protect vulnerable and minority populations and their allies in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

Recognizing the growing threats against women and children, religious and ethnic minorities, and LGBTQI persons in Afghanistan and against allies of such individuals, such as civil society leaders and activists, scholars, former government officials, journalists, and media workers, and expressing solidarity with and reaffirming the dire need to protect vulnerable and minority populations and their allies in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Whereas the Taliban have a history of prohibiting women from receiving an education and pursuing jobs outside their homes and have publicly executed women who were accused of adultery; Whereas a 2001 report by the Department of State noted that, from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban perpetrated egregious acts of violence against women war against women Whereas, in some Afghan provinces taken over by the Taliban beginning in May 2021, there are reports that the Taliban have forced women into marriage with Taliban fighters and have led targeted killings against women; Whereas United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has expressed concern with the Talibans contradiction of stated commitments, Whereas, since 2018, the Secretary of State has designated the Taliban as an entity of particular concern for religious freedom pursuant to section 301 of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act ( 22 U.S.C. 6442a particularly severe violations of religious freedom Whereas, in October 2021, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported on deteriorating conditions for religious minorities in Afghanistan, noting growing fear among Hazara Shia Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Ahmadi Muslims, Bahais, and nonbelievers, and stating, Afghans who do not adhere to the Talibans harsh and strict interpretation of Sunni Islam and adherents of other faiths or beliefs are at grave threat Whereas the Hazaras constitute approximately 10 to 15 percent of the national population in Afghanistan and are considered a minority religious group; Whereas the Hazaras specifically, along with other religious and ethnic minorities, have historically been explicitly targeted by the Taliban and have been abused with impunity; Whereas Amnesty International reported that on August 30, 2021, 13 Hazaras were unlawfully killed in the village of Kahor in the Khider district by Taliban fighters, with one of the victims being a 17-year-old girl; Whereas, in 2021, the Taliban forcibly displaced approximately 4,000 Hazaras from their homes and ancestral lands in Daykundi province while a Taliban court expelled approximately 2,000 families from the city of Mazar-e-Sharif; Whereas, in 2021, more than 30 instances of violence and threats of violence against Afghan journalists were recorded; Whereas activists, journalists, civil society actors, and scholars face threats and intimidation and risk being unlawfully detained or tortured or becoming a victim of targeted killings by the Taliban; Whereas adherence to the rule of law and protection of human rights is rapidly deteriorating under the Taliban, which are reportedly targeting judges, prosecutors, lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists, former parliamentarians, and individuals who previously advocated for human rights and the rule of law, particularly women; Whereas there are reports of the Taliban conducting house-to-house searches and tracking individuals who served the previous authorities and then carrying out targeted revenge killings; Whereas, during the previous period of rule of the Taliban, the Taliban reportedly executed Afghan men alleged to have engaged in sexual activity with other men; Whereas the current Acting Prime Minister of the Taliban reportedly stated in 1996 that homosexuality is a great sin some say we should take these sinners to a high roof and throw them down, while others say we should dig a hole beside a wall, bury them, then push the wall down on top of them Whereas a Taliban judge, Gul Rahim, stated in July 2021 that [f]or homosexuals, there can only be two punishments: either stoning or he must stand behind a wall that will fall down on him, Whereas, in 2022, many LGBTQI individuals in Afghanistan are forced to live in hiding due to reports of threats and attacks against such individuals in the community: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and with vulnerable groups including women and children, religious and ethnic minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) persons, civil society actors, journalists, and other at-risk populations in Afghanistan; (2) reaffirms the longstanding commitment of the United States to advance human rights worldwide; (3) calls on the Taliban to uphold the protection of universal human rights, including the commitments set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Afghanistan is a party; (4) encourages the executive branch to continue to call for the protection of women and children, religious and ethnic minorities, civil society actors, journalists, and LGBTQI persons under Taliban rule; (5) calls for the international community to condemn human rights violations committed by the Taliban; (6) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to support Afghan civil society, individuals who assisted with the war efforts of the United States and allies of the United States, and individuals who advocate for universal human rights; and (7) calls on the United States Government to work closely with the international community and nongovernmental organizations, particularly such organizations based in Afghanistan, to support at-risk Afghan minority populations and other vulnerable communities, including through efforts to stem the growing humanitarian crisis that will disproportionately impact already vulnerable groups.

Summary: This resolution expresses that the Senate stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and with vulnerable groups, including women and children; religious and ethnic minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) persons; civil society actors; journalists; and other at-risk populations in Afghanistan; calls on the Taliban to uphold the protection of universal human rights, including the commitments set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Afghanistan is a party; calls for the international community to condemn human rights violations committed by the Taliban; and calls on the U.S. government to work closely with the international community and nongovernmental organizations, particularly such organizations based in Afghanistan, to support at-risk Afghan minority populations and other vulnerable communities.