LETTER | Deteriorating human rights in Afghanistan is of deep concern

LETTER | The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is deeply concerned with the deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan in recent months.

On Aug 16, 2021, the UN human rights expert had issued a statement urging swift global action to protect human rights and prevent ‘civilian slaughter’ in Afghanistan and the need to protect the most vulnerable in Afghanistan, including children, women and girls, those internally displaced, the disabled, human rights defenders, journalists and the media, educators and civil society actors.

Suhakam was apprised of the dire situation in Afghanistan during the 26th Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institution (APF) held on Sept 15, 2021.

Suhakam was informed that there is a lot of chaos and uncertainties since the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, was taken over by the Taliban on Aug 15, 2021, and every member and staff of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is at risk due to the commission’s work on documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law implicated with the Taliban.

AIHRC had focused its efforts on evacuating its staff, although some of them may have fled to neighbouring countries. At the same time, AIHRC strongly hopes that the commission will not be dissolved.

AIHRC added that independent media and human rights activists also face similar threats, for they were beaten and tortured by the Taliban. It is worth noting that as of July 2020, a total of seven AIHRC commissioners and staff members have been killed in terrorist attacks. AIHRC proposed three immediate actions for the protection of the peoples in Afghanistan as follows:

i) AIHRC requested for any other countries to provide visas to the peoples of concern, including the AIHRC staff and their families, to enable them to be evacuated quickly once the commercial flights resume operations;

ii) To coordinate a strong statement, especially from the Islamic states, to support the Afghan women and girls on their human rights, such as the rights to employment and education, among others; and

iii) For governments to support the Human Rights Council to formulate a resolution to establish a fact-finding mission for Afghanistan.

Malaysian government's efforts applauded

Suhakam applauds the Malaysian government’s efforts in pushing for the 31st special session of the Human Rights Council to recognise the serious human rights concerns and the situation in Afghanistan and negotiated a draft on Human Rights Council resolution entitled: Strengthening the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Malaysia’s minister of foreign affairs also participated in a United Nations' High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan on Sept 13, 2021, which stressed that the safety, security, human rights and well-being of all Afghan people and other nationals in the country must be protected.

Therefore, Suhakam urges all relevant parties and the government of Malaysia to consider favourably the recommendations proposed by AIHRC and to commit to undertake whatever means available to aid and support relief for the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Suhakam would like to encourage the government of Malaysia to bring this matter to the attention of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to coordinate humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, and to issue a statement to address the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.