Look Ahead

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United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Meetings: September-December

The current UNGA session’s key sessions, side meetings, and working groups discussing global priorities such as climate change, human rights, and sustainable development.  Afghanistan’s situation, particularly its humanitarian crisis and women’s rights, could arise in these sessions.

 

Meeting of the 6th Committee – Crimes Against Humanity Treaty: The U.N. General Assembly’s Sixth Committee will meet in October to continue discussions on the Crimes Against Humanity treaty. This treaty seeks to establish a legal framework to address serious international crimes. Key discussions may include the codification of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, particularly in light of the situation in Afghanistan, based on the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women and girls. Ten member states have expressed openness to including gender-based crimes in the treaty. ALERT: The October session is a crucial opportunity to advocate publicly for the recognition of gender apartheid as an international crime and push for legal accountability.

Human Rights Council - renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur: The mandate of Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan Human Rights, is expected to be extended during the ongoing session of the Human Rights Council, which runs until October 10. ALERT: While most countries have shown their support, making it highly likely that his mandate will be renewed, showing support for his mission will be important to ensuring it is properly resourced.

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Special Envoys Meetings and possible Doha Process meeting: Special envoys will meet no later than early 2025 to discuss diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, focusing on women’s rights, humanitarian aid, and international strategies for responding to the Taliban’s policies. 

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ALERT: Future Doha Process meetings may continue to exclude civil society participation and human rights topics, which could hinder meaningful dialogue and the integration of diverse perspectives essential for addressing Afghanistan’s challenges effectively.

 

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit: November, San Francisco CA, USA

At the APEC Summit, Pacific Rim leaders will gather to discuss trade and economic growth.

Afghanistan’s role in regional trade and economic stability may be indirectly addressed during

discussions of broader economic collaboration across Asia. ALERT: This summit presents a vital opportunity to advocate for Afghanistan’s inclusion in economic discussions, highlighting its ongoing humanitarian challenges and the need for international support to ensure regional stability.

 

G20 Summit: November 2024, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The G20 Summit will focus on global economic stability, climate change, and international trade.

Afghanistan may be a topic of discussion in terms of its humanitarian needs and how sanctions or international aid can affect global stability​.

 

UN Security Council renewal vote on Taliban sanctions: December

Members of the Security Council will decide whether or not to extend sanctions (financial asset freeze, travel bans) on 135 Taliban officials and 5 groups for another year. The regime is referred to as UN Security Council Resolution 1988 and must be renewed before December 14.

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ALERT: Advocates for Afghanistan are urged to call for the continuation of sanctions against the Taliban while ensuring that humanitarian aid is directed to the Afghan people, not the regime. 

 

COP29 Climate Change Conference: November 2024, Baku Azerbeijan

At COP29, Afghanistan’s vulnerabilities to climate change could be raised, particularly concerning the country’s need for climate resilience and adaptation financing ​(Focus2030). ALERT: Some have argued that the Taliban should be invited to climate discussions – but this is a form of unearned recognition. Instead, apolitical Afghan climate experts should be invited.

 

UN Security Council Briefing on UNAMA: Before December 21, 2024, New York

The UN Security Council will issue its regular report and hold its quarterly briefing on UNAMA operations, focusing on Afghanistan’s political, security, and humanitarian challenges. These meetings will address the Taliban’s governance, women’s rights, counterterrorism concerns, and aid distribution. ALERT: This is an opportunity for all Security Council member states to ask UNAMA about the mission’s role in preventing and documenting human rights abuses.

 

Regional meetings: before the end of 2024

ALERT: Regional states should not include the Taliban as a legitimate participant and representatives of the Afghan people.

• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) - The SCO remains a crucial forum for addressing Afghanistan’s security and counterterrorism concerns. Given Afghanistan’s significant impact on regional stability, particularly in terms of terrorism and drug trafficking, these issues are expected to be key points of discussion at the upcoming SCO session.

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - Although SAARC has faced internal challenges, Afghanistan’s membership could prompt discussions around regional cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and integration into South Asia’s trade networks.

• Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit - The ECO Summit will focus on economic cooperation in Central and South Asia. Afghanistan’s potential role in energy projects, infrastructure development, and trade connectivity will be key agenda items.

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Past events (July – September 2024)

 

September 30: Canada, Germany, Australia, and The Netherlands have taken Afghanistan and the de facto (Taliban) authorities to the International Court of Justice on the basis of Afghanistan’s violations of its international treaty obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

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On September 27, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Afghanistan's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report, initially submitted in April by the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan in Geneva, with a majority vote. This represents a historic achievement for the Afghan nation, particularly for the courageous women who continue to fight for their rights, since the people of Afghanistan were able to represent themselves directly to the international community via the country’s Mission in Geneva.

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September 23: UN General Assembly side event was hosted by Qatar on “The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan”. This high-level meeting was co-sponsored by Indonesia, Ireland, and Switzerland, and the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan, with attendance by the UN Secretary General, UN Deputy Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo,  former European Parliament Vice Chair Margot Wallstrom, Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, and foreign ministers, including from Australia and the Netherlands.

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September 18: The UN Security Council’s quarterly UNAMA briefing focused on the  

humanitarian and development crisis in Afghanistan, highlighting the lack of funding for

critical services. The UN warned of a looming humanitarian disaster. The Director of UN/Women strongly condemned the Taliban’s morality laws. Eleven (11) members of the UN Security Council held a press conference and issued a statement condemning the Taliban’s new morality laws and their impact on women and girls in Afghanistan.

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September 17 and 18: UN General Assembly side events on the dire state of Afghanistan women’s rights and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, co-hosted by the Afghanistan Mission to the UN. Other hosting nations for these two events were Chile, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Greece, Malta, the UK, and Canada. 

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September 9-10: UN Human Rights Council, Geneva. The Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan saw numerous member states express grave concern over new rules imposed by the Taliban regarding women's "virtue" and "voice." Many countries strongly condemned these restrictions, highlighting the Taliban's ongoing efforts to marginalize women and violate their basic human rights. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan in his Oral Update at the Human Rights Council, addressed the human rights violations, especially regarding the situation of minorities, LGBTQI people and women’s rights and the deterioration of civil liberties under Taliban rule. The Taliban’s recent ban on his travel to Afghanistan was heavily condemned, as it was seen as an attempt to obstruct independent scrutiny and conceal the full extent of human rights abuses under their rule.

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July 12: The quarterly UN Security Council meeting on UNAMA addressed regional security issues related to Afghanistan, focusing on a recent attack in Pakistan by extremist groups allegedly sheltered by the Taliban and the ongoing security concerns for neighboring countries​.

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July 8: The Monitoring Team for the sanctions regime against the Taliban issued its annual report, noting the extensive presence of international terrorist groups in the country, most with Taliban permission, and the consolidation of power under the Taliban Supreme Leader.

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Reports/Statements

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September 9, 2024: A joint letter by 73 Afghan organizations and 17 supporting international organizations to the members of the UN Security Council called on the international community to act on the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur’s report on Afghanistan, highlighting

severe human rights abuses under Taliban rule, particularly targeting women and minorities.

 

August 27, 2024: The OHCHR issued a strong condemnation of a Taliban order that effectively erased women from public life through a “virtue and vice” order, with calls for immediate revocation.

 

August 25, 2024: UNAMA issued a statement committing to continued engagement with

Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, while pushing for human rights improvements, following the Taliban’s rejection of UN criticism of its policies​.

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August 25, 2024: A UN report highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare workers in Afghanistan, particularly midwives, in the face of Taliban restrictions, emphasizing their role in maintaining essential health services despite the regime’s oppression​.

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August 15, 2024: The UN Development Program published the bi-annual update on the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan. This report highlighted the underfunding of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, where only 21% of the needed $3 billion had been raised, resulting in cuts to essential health services and nutrition programs​.

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August 14, 2024: UNESCO reported that the Taliban’s rule had nearly wiped out two decades of educational progress, jeopardizing the future of an entire generation of Afghan children, particularly girls​.

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July 2024: UNAMA and OHCHR issued a joint report documenting and condemning the negative impact of Taliban “morality” laws.​​​​​