On The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women,

B90172/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women,

(2024/2617(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas since August 2021, the Taliban have publicly executed five people, three of them last month;

Whereas the Taliban’s violations of women’s human rights may amount to gender apartheid and to crimes against humanity on the grounds of gender persecution; whereas the oppressive environment that confines women and girls to their homes heightens their vulnerability to male violence; whereas the Taliban dismantled nationwide support systems for victims of violence against women; whereas the Taliban are imprisoning survivors in inhumane conditions, allegedly for their protection, which harms the their mental and physical health and would amount to an arbitrary deprivation of liberty;

Strongly condemns the recent executions in Afghanistan; reiterates its strong opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances; calls on the de facto authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on any further executions, as a step towards its abolition; urges them to ensure due process and halt the use of torture;

Calls on the de facto authorities to combat violence against women in Afghanistan, and to ensure accountability of perpetrators without delay; calls on the de facto authorities to reopen the nationwide support system for victims, and ensure avenues to seek shelter, medical care, legal recourse and reparations;

Calls on the de facto authorities to stop subjecting women and girls to arbitrary arrest, detention, enforced disappearances and torture, including for alleged non-compliance with Islamic dress codes, their activism or their journalistic work;

Strongly condemns the devastating rollback of women’s rights in Afghanistan; urges the de facto authorities to reverse restrictions on the rights of women and girls in line with Afghanistan’s international obligations, and to reopen the Ministry of Women’s Affairs;

Expresses grave concern about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which disproportionately affects women and girls; deplores that it drives violent practices, such as forced marriage and sexual exploitation; calls on the EU to increase its humanitarian aid for Afghanistan;

Condemns the disastrous legacy of decades of international intervention and illegal occupations, including by NATO, which have led Afghanistan to its present circumstances; reiterates its support for the ICC investigation into the international crimes committed by all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan; calls on the ICC to prioritize and accelerate the delivery of justice for victims; calls on the EU and its Member States to support this investigation and ensure that the ICC has the necessary resources;

Calls on the EU to facilitate the safe and legal resettlement of Afghans at risk, including by protecting them against refoulement and mistreatment and by increasing humanitarian visas, particularly for women and girls; calls on the EU Member States to support the application of the Temporary Protection Directive for Afghans seeking international protection;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States, the de facto authorities of Afghanistan, the ICC, the UN and NATO.