Afghanistan: UN rights review should tackle unfulfilled promises to improve human rights
The Afghan government has failed to live up to promises to improve its dire human rights situation, including for women, Amnesty International said ahead of a UN review of the country’s human rights progress.
Afghanistan’s human rights record is coming under scrutiny at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Monday 27 January, the review should focus among other human rights issues on the still precarious situation for women in the country.
“Afghan authorities have under-delivered on their pledges during the last UN review, especially on improving women’s human rights. There is still a huge gap between what the government has committed to do and the daily reality facing millions of women across the country,” said Horia Mosadiq, Amnesty International’s Afghanistan Researcher.
Other human rights concerns documented in Amnesty International’s submission to the UN, Back- tracking, compromises and failed pledges – human rights sidelined in Afghanistan, include:
• Protection of civilians in the armed conflict
• Arbitrary detention, and torture and other ill-treatment
• Internally displaced persons and returnees
• Death penalty and justice system
• Freedom of expression
Note to editors
The Afghanistan review by the UN Human Rights Council – known as the Universal Periodic Review – will take place in Geneva on Monday 27 January at 1.30pm GMT.
Horia Mosadiq is available for interviews ahead of the UPR. To arrange, please contact: Olof Blomqvist, Asia Pacific Press Officer, olof.blomqvist@amnesty.org, + 44 (0) 20 7413 5871, +44 (0) 777 847 2126
Olof Blomqvist
Press Officer Asia/Pacific
Media Programme, Amnesty International – International Secretariat
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7413 5871
Mobile: +44 (0) 790 4397 956
Out of hours Press Mobile (7pm GMT – 9am GMT and weekends) +44 (0) 777 847 2126 @olofblomqvist