Greece condemned the violations and abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans during today's UN Security Council meeting, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, calling on the Taliban to immediately reverse their restrictive policies and practices against women and girls.
The Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, Ambassador Ag. Baltas, during her statement, expressed strong concern about the recent cross-border clashes, calling on the Taliban to strengthen their efforts to combat terrorist activity.
Ms. Balta reiterated Athens' support for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the proposed plan for engagement with the Taliban, while recalling the need for them to fulfill their international obligations.
Before the start of the meeting, Greece signed, together with 55 UN member states, a joint declaration on respect for human rights worldwide and in Afghanistan in particular, which was delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Vanja Fajon.
The joint statement describes Afghanistan as a country with “extraordinary human potential” but at the same time with “one of the most dramatic human rights records in the world” due to the policies of the Taliban. Member states complain that women and girls face “an institutionalized system of segregation, exclusion and the devaluation of their dignity.”
As it is underlined, restrictions on education, work, freedom of movement and public life “not only deprive women of their future, but also Afghanistan of their contribution to economic and social development”. It is also emphasized that this policy constitutes “a profound attack not only on human rights, but also on the international standards that the global community has built”.
The countries also denounce “the repression of journalists and civil society, the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, public executions, corporal punishment and arbitrary arrests”, which – as it is noted – “continue with complete impunity”.
The 55 states and the EU call on the Taliban to “immediately cease and reverse all systematic human rights violations, in particular all restrictions against women and girls,” and to allow “the unhindered functioning of independent national and international monitoring and accountability mechanisms.”
