GENEVA, MARCH 8 – Women and girls, children, human rights defenders, journalists, media workers, persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTIQ+ persons are most at risk today in Afghanistan. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Marie Sol Fulci, took the floor today at the Interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in the country, in the framework of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council.
“Italy expresses its deep concern for the dramatic regression of human rights, including civil and political rights, in Afghanistan documented in the High Commissioner’s report”, the Deputy Permanent Representative stated, adding that Italy pays “particular attention to those who are in the most vulnerable situations and exposed to higher risks”, she said, pointing out the categories at risk: women and girls, children, human rights defenders, journalists, media workers, persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTIQ+ persons.
Min. Fulci recalled that therefore Italy decided to support the activities undertaken by OHCHR to promote and protect human rights in Afghanistan also through a voluntary financial contribution.
“The curtailment of enjoyment by Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights and freedoms, although not uniformly applied across the country”, she continued, “stands directly opposed to 20 years of hard-won progress made by Afghans on gender equality, non-discrimination and fight against gender-based violence”.
Finally the Deputy Permanent Representative Fulci underlined that the role of the UN Special Rapporteur that will be appointed at the end of this session will be critical also in the areas of the rights of women and girls and the right to education. (@OnuItalia)
