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UN observers have stressed the possibility that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in October.
UN Watch tweeted a press release discussing the Maldives’ intention to run for a Human Rights Council seat, with other candidates vying for the Asian vacancy include South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. pointed out.
The UN Human Rights Council is no stranger to controversy, and having undemocratic and autocratic members on the council is nothing new.
Other controversial members include China, Cuba and Venezuela.
Taliban claim al-Qaeda chief al-Zawari was unaware he was in Afghanistan before US drone attack
Afghanistan will occupy one of the 14 seats. Afghanistan’s former government retains control of the UN’s permanent mission, but the Taliban has appointed one of its spokesmen as ambassador. That decision fell to his nine-member qualifications committee, which includes China, Russia and the United States. The commission has not yet ruled on the Taliban’s demands.
UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer called this “two steps”. Taliban to win seats in council.
Human Rights Council Afghanistan scorecard More against than for. The current Afghan government has not ratified nine major international human rights treaties and has not developed or published an implementation plan for the Universal Periodic Review Recommendations.
The United Nations convened an “urgent debate” on Afghanistan on July 1 to address concerns over Taliban control of the country. A report from the UN mission to Afghanistan, released just weeks later, confirmed the legitimacy of many of the concerns raised in the aftermath of this regime change.
Biden’s failed Afghanistan withdrawal allowed the Taliban to turn the country into a terrorist state
The report notes that the Taliban “crack down on protests and restrict dissent by restricting press freedom,” including restrictions on access to education, jobs and participation in public life. It also mentions the erosion of the rights of women and girls.
The report raised concerns that the Taliban were acting “with impunity” and that the nationwide economic, financial and humanitarian crisis was exacerbating the situation.
Afghan Sikhs seek refuge in India due to religious persecution at home
“Education is not only a basic human right, it is also key to the development of the country,” said Markus Potzel, UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan.
“After 20 years of armed conflict, it is not time for all Afghans to be able to live in peace and rebuild their lives,” he added. “Despite improvements in the security situation[since 15 August]our surveillance has shown that Afghans, especially women and girls, have not been able to fully enjoy their human rights.”
At least 59% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, a significant increase of 6 million since early 2021, according to the report.
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A spokesman for the UN Human Rights Council stressed that the Taliban have no representation in any UN body and it is Afghanistan that has representation in a permanent mission. It did not respond to questions about the UN’s position on the decision.
The United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council in 2018 over concerns that it protected human rights abusers and was a “cesspool of political bias.” President Biden sought re-election to the council shortly after taking office, securing a seat for the 2022-2024 term.