Afghanistan Peace CampaignMujahid said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.
On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Islamic Emirate to honor global human rights commitments.
In a statement, UNAMA emphasized the importance of these commitments for safeguarding the welfare of current and future generations in Afghanistan.
UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, was quoted in the statement as saying:”With authority comes responsibility. The claim of the de facto authorities to be legitimate representatives of the Afghan people within the United Nations must be accompanied by genuine efforts to uphold and advance our shared norms and values.”
The statement also included comments by Fiona Frazer, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Afghanistan, regarding ongoing restrictions, particularly those affecting women and girls.
“If Afghans, in particular women and girls, continue to be denied their rights, this constitutes a clear and intentional failure to protect and be responsible for the well-being of all who live in Afghanistan,” Frazer said.
The European Union posted on X that human rights are essential for building a strong state and ensuring Afghanistan’s prosperity. The EU delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the rights of all Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls, to access work and education.
“Our primary demand from the Islamic Emirate is to respect the rights of all Afghan people, particularly women. We also call on the international community to move beyond slogans and speeches. We want tangible actions and for the voices of Afghan women to be heard,” said Tafsir Seyahposh, a women’s rights advocate.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.
“Within our value framework, we can define rights, recognize our responsibilities, and act upon them. We urge countries and human rights institutions not to view Afghanistan from their lens but from the perspective of Afghan people and Islamic principles, respecting what the people of Afghanistan value and believe in,” he said.
Sayed Moqaddam Amin, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate, considering its religious resources, should naturally focus all its activities on human rights.”
UNAMA stated that this year’s International Human Rights Day is being observed under the theme: “Our rights, our future, right now.”