10.03.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC quarterly meeting on Afghanistan (UNAMA)
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I join others in thanking Special Representative Otunbayeva for her briefing. A special thanks also to our civil society briefer, Ms. Raz Mohammad, for her powerful words and unwavering dedication.
Colleagues,
Afghanistan remains engulfed in crisis.
Severe economic hardship, persistent human rights violations and a catastrophic humanitarian situation have caused widespread suffering, most acutely amongst ordinary Afghans.
I wish to highlight three pressing points today.
First,
The Taliban’s persecution, erasure and violation of the fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan has continued relentlessly.
Policies, such as the Vice and Virtue law, seek to control nearly every aspect of Afghan daily life.
Bans, such as the one imposed on women attending medical institutes, further limit women’s already fragile access to healthcare, impacting generations to come.
And let us be clear.
These policies institutionalize an extreme system of gender-based discrimination and domination. They are contrary to basic, universal human rights. And they are devastating for the Afghan people.
Denmark condemns, in the strongest possible terms, these massive human rights violations.
This injustice undermines Afghanistan’s prospects for lasting peace, economic development and stability.
We urge the Taliban to immediately reverse all of their discriminatory policies.
The Taliban must uphold their obligations under international law, including under CEDAW and the resolutions of this Council.
Second,
We stress the importance of accountability. Persistent impunity is a driver of new serious international crimes.
The ICC Prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against senior Taliban leaders for the crime against humanity of gender persecution is a step towards accountability.
There must be justice for the countless Afghans suffering under the Taliban’s systemic restrictions. Afghanistan is bound by the Rome Statute, and the de facto authorities must abide by their obligations under this treaty.
We also commend the countless brave civil society members who work tirelessly to document serious violations of international human rights law in Afghanistan.
Third,
These stark human rights violations are taking place against a bleak and shocking humanitarian crisis, with half of the population in need of aid.
Securing adequate funding for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan is imperative to address this crisis effectively.
Ongoing restrictions and interference in aid activities, including against NGOs, are significantly disrupting aid operations, negatively impacting efforts to help stabilise Afghanistan.
They are impeding and imperilling access to vital humanitarian assistance, especially for women and girls.
Put simply, they are costing lives.
Denmark urges the Taliban to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers. To end aid interference and diversion. To allow for safe, meaningful and comprehensive participation of Afghan women in the response.
In closing, let me reiterate Denmark’s full support for UNAMA and its mandate renewal.
UNAMA continues to play a crucial role - not only in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to meet basic human needs - but also in advancing a political process that brings together all stakeholders in Afghanistan.
We support the Doha-process and welcome UN’s efforts to develop a roadmap for a comprehensive approach based on the recommendations of the Special Coordinator.
Colleagues,
The past three years have cast a growing shadow over Afghanistan, especially for its women and girls, whose basic human rights violated on a daily basis.
The de facto authorities seek to erase them, to hide them away behind closed doors and shuttered windows.
Around this table we have a responsibility to stand by them, to let the light in, just as we did this afternoon in the Security Council.
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