Item 2: ID with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President,

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and continued work.

We welcome the Rapporteur’s attention to the marginalisation of ethnic and religious or belief minorities in Afghanistan and the legislative discriminations, as well as violent verbal and physical threats and attacks, they face.  

Violations against minorities only increased after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Religious, sectarian, and ethnic minorities, including Shia Hazaras and Ahmadis, have been forced to flee from Afghanistan to neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan.

Being a refugee minority in a country like Iran or Pakistan, where minorities do not enjoy equal rights and continue to face hardships due to their religion or belief, adds an additional layer of marginalisation and increases their vulnerability.

In this respect CSW echoes the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to UN Member States to “increase acceptance of Afghan refugees” and to “facilitate the safe resettlement of Afghans at risk in other countries”.[1] We further urge states to provide safe roots for refugees and to allow concessions to refugees who may not have proper travel and identification documentation on account of the conditions that they were forced to flee.

Lastly, we call on the UNHCR and host countries to adopt measures to ensure strict confidentiality in its refugee assessment processes, so that refugees who come to register with them feel safe to declare their religion or belief without the fear of being targeted or discriminated against.

Thank you