A3+ Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at Security Council briefing on 'The Situation in Afghanistan'

Thank you Madam President, Your Excellency Tanja Fajon and a warm welcome to the Council,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and my own country, Guyana.

The A3+ thanks the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA, Mrs. Roza Otunbayeva and UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous their briefings. We have also listened carefully to the statement delivered by Ms. Mina.

Madam President,

The Secretary General reports a myriad of challenges faced by the Afghan people ranging from a weak economy, persistent poverty, food insecurity, climate change and natural disasters, a dire humanitarian situation and significant deprivation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, felt particularly for women and girls.

The A3+ reiterates our firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan and reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Afghan people.

The people of Afghanistan need significant international assistance in these difficult times. The third Doha meeting, held from June 30 to July 2, 2024, was a crucial and potentially transformative first-time opportunity for the Taliban to engage directly with the international community and key stakeholders. To build on this we call on the Taliban to comply with Afghanistan’s international obligations for the well-being of the Afghan people.

The A3+ believes it is important that the international community continue engagement with Afghanistan and reiterates that to achieve sustainable development, stability, and durable peace in Afghanistan, there must be an inclusive approach underpinned by respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights for all. The economic and social development of Afghanistan will only be achieved only through the participation of all its people.

Madam President

Afghanistan’s Gender Country Profile 2024, released by UN Women in June 2024, indicates that  since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has systematically targeted the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls via more than 70 decrees, policies, and practices which “dictate attire, curtail freedom of mobility, and restrict access to education and professional opportunities – effectively erasing the voices and perspectives of women and girls from public spaces and impeding realization of their inherent human rights”.  The A3+ is deeply concerned at the further oppression of Afghan women by the new morality law on the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice.

The recent round of quarterly consultations undertaken by UN Women, UNAMA and IOM in January/February 2024, show that only one per cent of women surveyed feel that they have influence over decision-making in their communities, and 64 per cent do not feel safe leaving their homes by themselves, a stark contrast to 2 per cent of men. This disparity is a clear indication of the negative environment in which women and girls live in Afghanistan.

We have also noted the reduction of salaries of women civil servants applied to “women who do not attend work daily or do not perform their duties according to their job description” which according to UNAMA, affects 5000 women civil servants who were ordered by the Taliban to stay at home.

The A3+ reiterates its urgent call for the Taliban to reopen all schools and universities to ensure that women and girls have access to all levels of education and to swiftly reverse all laws, policies and practices that discriminate against women and girls, infringe their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and limit their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all spheres of life.

We deplore the implementation of judicial corporal punishment which is in violation of Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations.

Madam President,

The A3+ views the continued regional engagement with Afghanistan on economy, trade, and transit as positive for Afghanistan’s development and economic growth.

We welcome the efforts to eradicate opium poppy cultivation and call for the continued support of UNODC and partners for alternative sources of income for farming households.  

The security situation in Afghanistan remains worrying, with attacks perpetrated and claimed by the terrorist group ISIL-K victimizing Afghan and foreign citizens.

We condemn all acts of violence and encourage the Taliban to sustain efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of Afghan citizens. We also encourage regional countries to intensify joint efforts to stabilize the security situation in Afghanistan to ensure peace dividends for the entire region.

Madam President,

The A3+ is concerned that children continue to be killed and maimed by unexploded ordnances. We reiterate our call for all parties to take measures to ensure explosive ordnance clearance and explosive ordnance risk education, as recommended in the conclusions on Afghanistan adopted by the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains of grave concern with more than half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. We note that despite some improvements attributed to humanitarian food and emergency agricultural assistance, an estimated 12.4 million people are acutely food insecure. The A3+ commends the contributions of the Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization in providing critical support to those affected and encourage international donors to scale up their support.  We call on the Taliban to lift the restrictions on Afghan women humanitarian workers recognizing that these restrictions are negatively impacting the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly to women and girls.

In closing, Mr. President, we express our sincere appreciation to UNAMA and SRSG Otunbayeva for their dedicated work and tireless engagement with the Taliban and all relevant actors to improve the overall situation in the country.

I thank you.