Statement at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 2: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur
Delivered by Wazhma Tokhi
Mr. Vice-President,
CIVICUS and Pohana Foundation welcome the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, highlighting the serious violations in the country over the last 5 years by the Taliban.
As noted by the Special Rapporteur there has been a tightening of restrictions affecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We remain deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and intimidation of human rights defenders and journalists.
Women and girls have been completely excluded from public life - tantamount to "gender apartheid". The new Criminal Code passed in January 2026 further exacerbates this repression and the crackdown on protests in Herat in June, highlights the ongoing dangers for those trying to speak up. Despite this, small acts of resistance by activists persist.
We call on the Council not to engage with the Taliban in a way that legitimises or normalises their systematic oppression. Instead, it should support efforts to ensure that the independent mechanism set up by the HRC in 2025 is fully resourced and is up and running quickly so that it can begin to collect, prepare, and preserve evidence, and build files on those responsible for international crimes
We also call on this Council to urgently provide protection to Afghan civil society especially women HRDs at risk in the country and in exile.
Thank you.
Civic space in Afghanistan is rated as Closed by the CIVICUS Monitor
