A/HRC/RES/48/1
Deeply concerned about the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in particular the
continued allegations of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international
humanitarian law, including those involving summary or extrajudicial executions, arbitrary
detentions, violence against peaceful protesters and journalists, reprisals, raids on offices of
non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, violations and abuses of the human
rights of all women and girls, committed by the Taliban and other parties to the conflict, and
recalling the importance of protecting cultural heritage from looting,
Deeply concerned also about the human rights implications of the dire security
situation in Afghanistan, in particular for all women and girls, and for older persons and
persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, journalists, media workers, human
rights defenders and members of their families, internally displaced persons, those who have
worked for the Government and for former military personnel, and persons in vulnerable
situations, and about the ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the looming
food security crisis,
Recognizing that the effective exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression is an important indicator of the level of protection of other human rights and
freedoms, and underlining the important role played by local journalists and media workers
in continuing to carry out essential work, including by documenting and reporting, in
challenging circumstances,
Deeply deploring the suffering of the people of Afghanistan, reaffirming its profound
solidarity with them and stressing the importance of providing them with proper support and
assistance, as well as the urgent and imperative need to ensure accountability by bringing
perpetrators of crimes involving violations and abuses of international human rights law and
international humanitarian law to justice,
Recalling the obligations of Afghanistan under international human rights law as
expressed in the treaties and conventions to which it is a party, including the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Recalling also that Afghanistan has been a State party to the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court since 1 May 2003,
Acknowledging the efforts of numerous States to evacuate and relocate Afghans
wishing to leave the country, and emphasizing the need to support neighbouring countries
that are sheltering large numbers of Afghan refugees,
Acknowledging also the efforts of neighbouring and other countries in facilitating the
delivery of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, in collaboration with the United Nations
and other international agencies and partners,
Emphasizing that sustainable peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through an
inclusive, just, durable and realistic political settlement that upholds the enjoyment of human
rights, including for all women, girls, children and persons belonging to minorities,
Reaffirming the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women
in planning and decision-making with regard to mediation, confidence-building, conflict
prevention and resolution, and of their involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote
peace and security, and the need to prevent and redress human rights violations, such as all
forms of violence against women and girls, especially sexual and gender-based violence,
Reaffirming also that human rights, democracy and the rule of law create an
environment in which countries can promote development, protect individuals from
discrimination and ensure equal access to justice for all,
Recognizing that terrorism has devastating consequences for the enjoyment of human
rights and fundamental freedoms of victims and their families, in particular women and girls,
and reaffirming the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, while fully respecting
human rights, to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used to threaten or attack any
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