The United Nations General Assembly (UGNA) has adopted a resolution on Afghanistan based on which the international community will not recognize Afghanistan’s de facto authorities if they do not respect human rights, including for women, girls, and minorities.
This resolution was approved by the UN General Assembly on Thursday, November 11. A total of 116 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while ten countries, including Russia and China, abstained and raised concerns that the text of the resolution was “unbalanced.”
This resolution calls for full respect for human rights and the meaningful participation of women in all spheres of life. In this resolution, the countries expressed concerns about the developments and the volatility in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over in August last year, the dire socio-economic conditions, continued violence, and the presence of terrorist groups.
China and Russia called for unfreezing foreign assets of Afghanistan’s central bank held by the US and demanded an investigation into foreign troops and their crimes in Afghanistan.
UGNA expressed concern about the rights of women and girls in the country and has asked the Taliban to change policies and approaches that prevent women and girls from enjoying their rights and basic freedoms.
“The resolution is a clear call to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, develop inclusive governance and fight terrorism,” Germany’s UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse said.
“It [the resolution] contains a clear message that, without, there cannot be business-as-usual and no pathway towards recognition. Engagement with the Taliban will have to remain limited in steps and scope, based on principles.”, Antje Leendertse added.
Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, previously stated that the political, security, economic and social situation of Afghanistan and their impacts on regional and extra-regional countries are reflected in this resolution, and he called for immediate actions by the parties involved.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15 last year, and since then, they have imposed extensive restrictions, in particular, on women. Currently, girls above the sixth grade cannot go to school, and women are also banned from working in government offices. After more than a year, as of yet, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government. The international community has asked the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to form a government with the presence of all ethnic groups to gain official recognition from other countries. In addition, the government needs to have respect for human rights, women’s rights, and respect for freedom of speech, and individual freedoms.
