On the deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”

B100048/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”

(2024/2803(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban, human rights and specifically women’s rights, have extremely deteriorated due to the Islamic fundamentalist nature of the Taliban regime;

B.whereas the Taliban regime, currently under EU & UN sanctions and embargoes, abolished all previously enforced laws, particularly those protecting women, enacting a new law sanctioning adultery, fornication, lesbianism, anal intercourse, gambling, the creation of images of living beings, shaving of beards and friendships with non-Muslims;

C.whereas severe human rights violations occur daily while violators enjoy impunity; whereas women’s rights defenders and minority groups, such as the Hazara and Christian community, have been specifically targeted;

D.whereas since 1994, EU and Member States have collectively been the largest international donor to Afghanistan and its people;

1.Resolutely condemns the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”, rendering it a heinous violation of human rights rooted in an Islamic fundamentalist doctrine.

2.Deplores the worsening situation of Afghan women and girls, denounces all forms of gender-based violence and the Taliban's efforts to erase women from public life, denying their basic human rights.

3.Expresses grave concern that the Taliban leadership, currently under EU, US and UN sanctions are actively wanted for terrorist activities; strongly discourages any acts of recognition of a Taliban government, supports enforcement of sanctions against Taliban leaders and perpetrators of human rights abuses, including travel bans, asset freezes, and any measure dismantling the Taliban’s capacity to operate.

4.Is deeply concerned that Afghanistan under the Taliban remains a safe haven for terrorist groups; demands that the Taliban are stopped from threatening or violating the security of other countries;

5.Calls on the UNHRC to immediately establish a commission of inquiry into human rights violations committed by the Taliban delivering full accountability, including prosecution for crimes of aggression;

6.Calls on the ICC to launch an investigation into the Mullahs comprising the Supreme Council of Afghanistan for crimes against peace and crimes against humanity;

7.Reiterates its unwavering solidarity and commitment towards the people of Afghanistan and calls on Afghanistan to immediately abolish this abhorrent law;

8.Calls on neighbouring partners to take diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement measures to ensure that the Taliban’s culture of impunity for violence is eradicated;

9.Urges Member States to preserve and share the intelligence gathered through military and law enforcement operations in Afghanistan, in collaboration with Europol, with an emphasis on biometric data, assisting Member States and third countries in identifying returning Foreign Fighters;

10.Calls on the European Commission to immediately appoint a new Special Envoy for the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief equipped with adequate resources;

11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the Vice-President of the Commission/HRVP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, Members of the Afghan National Assembly and the Taliban interim-government of Afghanistan.