A/HRC/RES/51/20 Council on the situation in Afghanistan, children and armed conflict, and on women, and peace and security, Recalling also the statements made by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Children and Armed Conflict, those by several special procedures of the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies on reports of human rights abuses in Afghanistan committed by the Taliban, and the press statement on Afghanistan issued by the Security Council on 24 May 2022, Deeply concerned about the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in particular the continued human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving summary or extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, forced displacement, collective punishment, violence against peaceful protesters, journalists, and former defence and security personnel, reprisals, rads on offices of non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, violations and abuses of the human rights of all women, children, and members of ethnic and minority communities, committed by the Taliban and other parties to the conflict, Expressing grave concern about the grave, institutionalised, widespread, and systematic oppression of all women and girls in Afghanistan, Recalling the importance of protecting cultural heritage from deliberate damage and looting, Deeply concerned about the human rights implications of the dire security situation in Afghanistan, in particular for all women, girls, children and for older persons and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, journalists, media workers, human rights defenders, particularly women media workers, journalists and human rights defenders, and members of their families, lawyers, judge, prosecutors, internally displaced persons, prisoners, those who have worked for the Government and former military personnel, and persons in situations of vulnerability, such as persons with disabilities, and about the ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the food security crisis, Expressing deep concern at the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan that has undermined the enjoyment of a full range of economic, social and cultural rights of the people of Afghanistan, including of women and girls, Expressing deep concern also at the increasing level of food insecurity and the acute malnutrition affecting the people of Afghanistan, in particular women, children and femaleheaded households, Noting with grave concern the assessment of the Special Rapporteur that attacks, frequently claimed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan, and the historical persecution of Hazaras and persons belonging to other ethnic and religious minorities appear to be systematic in nature and reflect elements of an organizational policy, thus bearing the hallmarks of international crimes, including crimes against humanity,1 Noting the concerns of the Special Rapporteur about the situation of children, who continue to be affected by hardship following decades of conflict, insecurity, conflict-related violence, recruitment and use as child soldiers, of sexual and gender-based violence, and other violations of international law, including human rights violations, who in addition to restrictions on the right to education suffer from the effects of the humanitarian crisis, including hunger, and whose basic needs are not met,2 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 1 2 2 See A/HRC/51/6, para. 67. Ibid., para. 71.