The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today during the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in the framework of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council.
“The international community and this Council must continue to address the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, which is further deteriorating, with particular regard to the gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls”, stated the Permanent Representative, adding that “the increasing restrictions imposed on their fundamental rights—including the rights to education, work, freedom of movement and expression—are unacceptable”.
He expressed Italy’s deep dismay over the law recently issued by the Taliban on the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”, which further expands the intolerable restrictions imposed on the lives of Afghans, while also mandating that “women’s voices must not be heard in public, effectively depriving them of the fundamental freedom of expression”.
The Permanent Representative affirmed that “Italy stresses the need to ensure Afghan women’s and girls’ full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as their empowerment, meaningful participation and leadership in society and public life, notably in the framework of the Doha process”.
In conclusion Ambassador Grassi underlined that “Italy remains also deeply concerned about the impact of the current situation on millions of children as well as on ethnic and religious minorities”, recalling that “Afghanistan must respect its obligations under international law, including CEDAW, CRC, and other treaties to which it is a party”.
Read the full statement.
