Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has called for independent investigations into the harassment of Afghan women human rights defenders, protection for victims, and accountability for violations of their rights.
Faiq said on Wednesday, October 21, at the Third Committee of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly that no woman should face harassment for demanding her rights and that no one who commits a crime should be exempt from punishment.
He said Afghan human rights defenders living in hiding or in exile need immediate and practical support.
According to Faiq, leaving Afghanistan does not necessarily mean achieving safety, and United Nations member states must take action to provide emergency protection, grant asylum, and establish safe pathways for relocation to other countries.
He also urged countries to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and support Afghan human rights defenders by providing predictable funding, legal assistance, and confidential psychosocial services.
Faiq stressed that Afghan women human rights defenders must have meaningful and safe participation in decisions concerning their country’s future.
He added that engagement with the Taliban must not come at the expense of the safety of women human rights defenders or lead to the disregard of accountability for violations of their rights.
