Checked Against Delivery
Thank you, Madam President,
Let me also thank deputy SRSG Gagnon, Director Wosornu and Ms. Mehran for their valuable briefings.
Nearly five years after the Taliban’s violent seizure of power, Afghanistan remains trapped in a cycle of systematic repression and humanitarian suffering, with no meaningful steps taken to reverse course.
Allow me to make three points.
First, we are deeply appalled by the Taliban’s widespread dismantling of fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan. The scale and severity of these restrictions, particularly against women and girls, are unparalleled. These are not isolated acts, rather a deliberate pattern of institutionalised gender-based discrimination and exclusion as outlined so powerfully by Ms. Mehran.
Girls remain barred from secondary and higher education. Women are excluded from most employment. Their movement is restricted. Their access to justice is curtailed, and their participation in public life has been eliminated.
Decree No. 18 represents another deeply troubling step on this trajectory.
It effectively legitimises marriage for children as young as nine and allows a girl’s silence to be interpreted as consent.
Let us be clear. Silence is not consent and a nine-year old girl is not an adult.
Denmark strongly condemns Decree 18 and all measures that discriminate against women and girls or restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Afghan people.
The Taliban must immediately bring their laws, policies and practices into full compliance with Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations.
We also call for strengthened international efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for violations of international law, including through UN mechanisms, the ICC and strengthened support to the Independent International Mechanism for Afghanistan.
Second, Madam President,
The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly desperate with more than 21 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance and widespread acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
Needs are further driven by displacement, climate shocks including water scarcity, economic hardship and regional instability, including cross-border hostilities.
At the same time, humanitarian agencies are stretched to the limit, operating under severe funding shortages and increasingly constrained conditions, as Madam Wosornu pointed to.
Denmark also remains deeply concerned by the continued ban on Afghan female UN personnel.
UN personnel serve on behalf of all of us. Restrictions on their work undermine not only the delivery of assistance, but also the implementation of this Council’s mandate.
We once again demand that the Taliban ensure full, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access across Afghanistan, and remove all restrictions on female personnel.
Third, Madam President,
Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, and its territory must not be used to threaten or attack any country. We call on the Taliban to take sustained action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan, including ISIL-K and TTP, in line with this Council’s resolutions.
The recent hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan further underscore the ongoing regional tension. We call for restraint and urge continued efforts to reduce tensions, including China’s facilitation of dialogue, to support de-escalation and a durable ceasefire.
All parties must comply with international law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law.
In closing,
Let me extend Denmark’s strong appreciation to UNAMA and all UN personnel working under incredibly difficult circumstances across Afghanistan.
Ahead of UNAMA’s mandate renewal, Denmark supports a strong UN presence on the ground with a clear focus on human rights, humanitarian coordination and good offices.
The Women, Peace and Security agenda must remain central to all UN engagement on Afghanistan, with women’s rights, participation and protection fully integrated across political, humanitarian and governance efforts, including in the Doha process.
To this end, we call for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy and we reiterate the need to appoint a Special Representative without delay.
I thank you.
