Dictate

Statement on the situation in Afghanistan

Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at UNSC meeting on the situation in Afghanistan

Thank you Madam President.

I wish to add my thanks to SRSG Otumbayeva, Assistant Secretary Msuya and Executive Director Bahous for their briefings.

Madam President,

I wish to begin by stressing the importance of UNAMA’s work, in particular in the fields of human rights and humanitarian assistance. We appreciate UNAMA’s continued engagement with the Afghan and international stakeholders. Its presence in Afghanistan remains essential.

We welcome the latest Secretary-General’s periodic report, as well as UNAMA’s special report on the implementation, enforcement and impact of the so-called Law on Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Eight months into its enforcement, women, minorities, children, men, youth and older persons across Afghanistan have been negatively impacted to varying degrees.

It has further restricted the rights of women and girls, who bear the brunt of its impact. It is the fourth consecutive school year in which women and girls are excluded from education beyond grade six. This continued exclusion remains deeply concerning.

We reiterate our call for the Taliban to reverse these unacceptable discriminatory policies and practices. Any country’s strength lies in recognizing and upholding the inherent equality of all its people. The Taliban must ensure that its domestic and foreign policies serve the entire population. Among others, the direct and indirect socio-economic consequences of the PVPV are likely to worsen Afghanistan’s already dire economic and humanitarian situation. Such human rights violations also inevitably weaken long-term stability and security.

The exclusion of women and girls from education and employment has much wider impact than on one person, it deprives families of their income, deepens their poverty and triggers or contributes to forced migration. We continue to call for inclusivity and good, effective and accountable governance and for full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in all spheres of societal and public life and for the authorities to uphold their right to education, healthcare, employment and work, as well as their freedom of movement, expression and peaceful assembly.

Madam President,

The Taliban and the international community have yet to establish the trust necessary to address the needs and aspirations of Afghan’s diverse population.

In this regard, we note the developments within the working groups on counter-narcotics and private sector – both of which are important for addressing issues that are critically relevant to the livelihoods of Afghans.

We continue to support coherent and structured engagement with the Taliban to address comprehensively the complex challenges that stand between the Afghanistan’s current situation and the aspirations for reintegration into the international community.

What must be clear, however, is that progress depends on the Taliban demonstrating both willingness and an understanding of their international obligations to bring the process further.  We are of the view that no solution to many challenges faced by Afghanistan will be sustainable without addressing the issues of equal enjoyment of human rights.

We reiterate our strong support for democratic and prosperous future for Afghanistan – one in which the country is at peace with itself and its neighbours, and fully integrated into international community. We envision an Afghanistan capable of fulfilling the obligations of a sovereign state, both to its own population as well as in relation to other states.

Madam President,

The lasting crisis continues to generate humanitarian needs unparalleled in scale, severity and complexity, now increasingly compounded by often forcible deportations of Afghans from neighbouring states, climate shocks and extreme weather events. This unrelenting pressure of the humanitarian crisis has profound repercussions for overall stability of Afghanistan.

To conclude, let me reiterate that all humanitarian actors, including female humanitarian staff, need safe and unhindered access to provide urgent assistance to the affected population, without discrimination and in line with humanitarian principles.

I thank you.

Recent Statements

Statement on the UN–AU partnership

7 October 2025 – Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations, Samuel Žbogar, at the UNSC meeting on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security

Dictate
Slovenia building trust Logo
I feel SLOVENIA