Afghanistan tabled ‘voluntary pledges and commitments’ in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2018-2020 on 6 September 2017. The document presents Afghanistan’s international, regional and national level commitments and pledges for its membership term.
At domestic level, Afghanistan pledged to: ratify the OP-CAT; ensure endorsement of a comprehensive Child Act and the development of a national action plan on the protection of children; ensure full implementation of the national multi-year action plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security; remain committed to ensuring the meaningful participation of women in political decision-making; ensure that civilian casualties from armed conflict are reduced to a minimum level; continue its full support for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and ensure the implementation of the office of the Ombudsperson within the Commission; establish an adequate information-sharing system on threats to media outlets, civil society organisations, journalists and human rights defenders at the provincial level; continue to foster genuine participation and meaningful involvement of civil society and human rights defenders in the promotion and protection of human rights.
At the international level, Afghanistan made commitments to: establish new standards of cooperation with all parts of the human rights monitoring mechanisms of the UN system, including the OHCHR, the Special Procedures, the complaint procedure of the Council and the Treaty Bodies; continue to engage and participate in the UPR and implement the recommendations received during the second cycle; support initiatives to strengthen the capacity of the Council to promote the rights of the most vulnerable groups, with special emphasis on children, women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, returnees and refugees; increase its activities aimed at sharing its experience in carrying out renowned programmes in various areas, such as counter-terrorism, women’s rights, freedom of expression and others, that serve the goal of effective implementation of human rights; continue to support the meaningful engagement of civil society and non-governmental organisations with the Council; support efforts aimed at ensuring an efficient international response to newly emerging human rights challenges.
An analysis of steps taken by Afghanistan in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that Afghanistan has completed and accepted almost 95% of all Special Procedures visit requests received, although it has only responded to 20% of communications. Concerning cooperation with Treaty Bodies, Afghanistan has submitted late its reports under four of the seven conventions of which it is a party and has three periodic reports overdue. Afghanistan did participate at the UPR at a high political level and has increased its engagement in other States’ reviews: from 10 in the first cycle to 82 in the third cycle. Afghanistan has joined consensus on initiatives related to the rights of the child, women, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons. Afghanistan was not mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report on reprisals.
Cooperation with international human rights system
Most overdue report
Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments