Human Rights Organisations urge UN to send Fact Finding Mission to Afghanistan

A group of 54 human rights organizations have urged the UN member states to create an investigative mechanism on Afghanistan at the upcoming 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council. This could be a Fact Finding Mission or a similar independent investigative mechanism, the organizations, including WO=MEN, write in their appeal.

 

‘We express our profound regret at the failure of the recent HRC special session on Afghanistan to deliver a credible response to the escalating human rights crisis gripping the country,’ the organizations say. ‘A Fact-Finding Mission, or similar independent investigative mechanism, with a gender-responsive and multi-year mandate and resources to monitor and regularly report on, and to collect evidence of, human rights violations and abuses committed across the country by all parties is a critical component of the broader international response urgently needed to address the escalating human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. ‘ 

 

The organizations also state that ‘It is crucial to support the brave activists and human rights defenders, particularly women human rights defenders, who have continued their work at significant personal risk and have requested support and solidarity from the international community.’ 

 

Read the letter here.