Statement by H.E. Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the UNSC meeting on the situation in Afghanistan

I wish to thank the USG Fletcher and deputy SRSG Gagnon for their briefings. My sincere appreciation also goes to Ms. Negina Yari for sharing her insightful remarks.

Today, we mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human rights are universal, inalienable, indivisible and interdependent. Yet the world’s most severe human rights crisis serves as a painful reminder that the universality of rights remains far from realized.

As this is our last UNAMA briefing as a Council member, I would like to reflect on Slovenia’s two years membership and highlight the following key points on Afghanistan.

We have consistently expressed our deep dismay about the dire situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The international community must not leave them alone. The actions we take – or fail to take – for all Afghan women and girls, will shape how we are perceived collectively as a global community. I believe that this Council is united in rejecting restrictive draconian policies that violate their basic rights.

We have supported engagement with the Taliban on the clear and non-negotiable basis of their international obligations – including respect for the rights of women and girls. Over the past two years however, we have observed no indication of willingness from the Taliban to resolve this most pressing crisis. On the contrary, they have deliberately worsened the situation by imposing policies and practices that placed additional constraints on women – which is entirely unacceptable.

Today, we therefore reiterate our call on the Taliban to immediately reverse  all such policies and practices, which we condemn in the strongest terms, including the ban on Afghan women working for and entering UN premises. We will continue to call for full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in all spheres of public life; for their right to education, healthcare and employment; and for their freedom of movement, expression and assembly.

Likewise, we will continue to support UNAMA’s presence in Afghanistan. I commend UNAMA for all activities it has been undertaking under such challenging circumstances. Its human rights mandate is essential to monitoring, documenting and reporting human rights violations and abuses. We therefore urge this Council to reaffirm its commitment to human rights when UNAMA’s mandate comes up for renewal in March. Without the protection and respect of human rights of all Afghans, a peaceful, secure and prosperous Afghanistan will remain only a distant aspiration.

The enduring multidimensional crisis continues to generate humanitarian needs unparalleled in scale, severity and complexity.

The dire humanitarian situation is increasingly compounded by unprecedented involuntary returns of Afghans from neighbouring states, limited access to essential services, acute food insecurity, chronic poverty and pressing vulnerability to natural hazards and climate shocks. The consequences of the earthquakes in August and November are devastating. This unrelenting pressure of the humanitarian crisis has profound repercussions for overall stability of Afghanistan.

In conclusion, let me stress that despite the continuously regressive developments in Afghanistan, Slovenia – like most international partners – remains ready to support the Afghan people on their path to a better future. Sustainable solutions to Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges are impossible without ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of human rights for all.

I thank you.

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