France told the UN Human Rights Council today that it will use every available tool to support the people of Afghanistan and to confront the country’s deep-rooted culture of impunity. The French representative said that individuals in Afghanistan have committed gender-based abuses yet still face no prosecution. “We must ensure the rule of law prevails, victims are supported, and that we fight against forgetting,” she said.
During today’s session, the Council adopted a resolution establishing an independent investigative mechanism aimed at holding perpetrators of serious human-rights violations in Afghanistan accountable. France was among the states that fully supported the resolution.
France noted that the Taliban seized power by force four years ago and that the human-rights situation under their rule continues to deteriorate. Human Rights Watch stated that the newly adopted resolution sends a warning to the Taliban and all other actors responsible for grave crimes in Afghanistan that evidence is now being gathered for future prosecutions.
The new mechanism will collect documentation related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other major abuses, identify those responsible, and prepare case files for use in national and international courts. The resolution also extends the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan.
The proposal for an independent investigative mechanism followed demands from Afghan rights groups and international organizations calling for action against Afghanistan’s long-standing impunity. In August, the Human Rights Defenders Forum and 108 domestic and international organizations urged the creation of such a mechanism.
