10 December 2025
Thank you, Madam President.
I would like to welcome your presence at today’s meeting and thank you for chairing this open briefing.
I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Deputy Special Representative Gagnon and Ms. Negina Yari for their briefings and welcome the presence of the representatives of Afghanistan.
Madam President,
As we commemorate the International Human Rights Day, our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan who are suffering severe violations and abuses of their human rights and fundamental freedoms under the Taliban rule.
The situation is particularly dire for women and girls, as well as for minority groups.
We condemn, in the strongest terms, the restrictive decrees by the Taliban authorities, including the strict implementation of the Law on the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and call on the Taliban to reverse them immediately.
I would like to make the following three points:
First, the restrictions on UN female national staff from accessing UN offices across the country, that started in September are still in effect, and have had severe repercussions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to women and their access to healthcare. It is unacceptable and we urge the Taliban to immediately lift these restrictions.
The Internet shutdown and the communications blackout, as well as the review of the education sector by removing topics related to women’s studies and banning books by women authors, are further indications on the Taliban’s attempt to silence women and isolate them from society. In light of these acts, we continue to call for accountability.
Moreover, we welcome the recent Human Rights Council Resolution establishing an independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan, which aims at advancing justice for international crimes and violations of international law committed in the country.
Second, we are alarmed by the different cross-border incidents, clashes and airstrikes that took place during the reporting period, resulting in civilian casualties and posing a threat to regional peace and security.
We reiterate our position that Afghanistan must not become again a safe haven for terrorism and we call on the Taliban to strengthen their efforts to combat terrorist activities.
At the same time, the protection of civilians must remain a top priority, in line with international humanitarian law.
In this context, we welcome the ceasefire between the Taliban and Pakistani security forces as well as the mediation efforts by regional states and call for a lasting cessation of hostilities and the resolution of differences through peaceful means.
Third, despite Afghanistan’s purported internal and economic stability, the humanitarian situation remains deeply worrying, due to environmental disasters, food insecurity and unprecedented cross-border returns.
It is noteworthy that, with almost 2.5 million people returning in 2025, Afghanistan’s population rose by 6 per cent.
However, this surge in returns has placed significant pressure on the country’s limited services and protection capacities.
Continuing international humanitarian support to Afghanistan is therefore of paramount importance.
Madam President,
In closing, I would like to reiterate Greece’s full support to UNAMA and its proposed roadmap to foster a more coherent, coordinated, and structured engagement between the international community and the Taliban.
The sustainable development of Afghanistan and the normalization of its relations with the international community cannot be achieved, however, as long as women and girls, half of the country’s population, remain marginalized and deprived of their human rights.
I thank you.