EU: Violations of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan May Constitute ‘Gender Persecution’

DID Press: The European Union, speaking at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, expressed concern over the human rights situation in Afghanistan and said that “systematic and widespread” violations of the rights of women and girls in the country may amount to “gender persecution” and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute.

The EU called for the immediate removal of all restrictions on women’s and girls’ access to health services and urged guarantees for the rights of minorities, people in vulnerable situations and LGBTI persons.

The bloc also condemned public executions and corporal punishment, stressing that sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan require an inclusive political process with the equal and meaningful participation of women.

The European Union added that it would provide financial support to operationalize an independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan and called for adequate funding for the mechanism.