Press Statement No. 34-2021_SUHAKAM Urges All Parties to Assist the Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan

PRESS STATEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR (17 SEPTEMBER 2021)   –   The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) is deeply concerned with the deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan in recent months. On 16 August 2021, the UN human rights expert had issued a statement urging swift global action to protect human rights and prevent ‘civilian slaughter’ in Afghanistan and the need to protect the most vulnerable in Afghanistan including children, women, and girls, those internally displaced, the disabled, human rights defenders, journalists and the media, educators and civil society actors.

SUHAKAM was apprised of the dire situation in Afghanistan during the 26th Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institution (APF) held on 15 September 2021. SUHAKAM was informed that there is a lot of chaos and uncertainties since the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, was taken over by the Taliban on 15 August 2021 and every member and staff of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is at risk due to the Commission work on documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law implicated with the Taliban. AIHRC had focused its efforts on evacuating their staff although some of them may have fled to neighbouring countries. At the same time, AIHRC strongly hopes that the Commission will not be dissolved.

AIHRC added that the independent media and human rights activists also face similar threats where they were beaten and tortured by the Taliban. It is worth noting that as of July 2020, a total of seven AIHRC Commissioners and staff members have been killed by the terrorist attacks. AIHRC proposed three immediate actions for the protection of the peoples in Afghanistan as follows:

1. AIHRC requested for any other countries to provide visas to the peoples of concern including the AIHRC staff and their families to enable them to be evacuated quickly once the commercial flight resumes operations;
2. To coordinate a strong statement especially from the Islamic States to support the Afghan women and girls on their human rights such as the rights to employment and education, among others; and
3. For governments to support the Human Rights Council to start a Resolution to establish a fact-finding mission for Afghanistan.

SUHAKAM applauds the Malaysian government’s efforts in pushing for the 31st special session of the Human Rights Council to recognize the serious human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan and negotiated a draft on Human Rights Council resolution entitled: Strengthening the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic Afghanistan; and the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs in a United Nations’ High-Level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan on 13 September 2021, which stressed that the safety, security, human rights and the wellbeing of all Afghan people and other nationals in the country must be protected.

Therefore, SUHAKAM urges all relevant parties and Government of Malaysia to consider favourably the recommendations proposed by AIHRC and commit to undertake whatever means available to aid and support relief for the human rights situation in Afghanistan. SUHAKAM would like to encourage for the Government of Malaysia to bring this matter to the attention of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to coordinate humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan; and to issue a statement to address the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

-END-

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

17 September 2021

Media queries: Contact Mrs. Norashikin Hamzah at 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 or shikin@suhakam.org.my

KENYATAAN MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR (17 SEPTEMBER 2021)  –  Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) amat bimbang dengan situasi hak asasi manusia di Afghanistan yang semakin meruncing sejak beberapa bulan ini. Pada 16 Ogos 2021, sekumpulan pakar hak asasi manusia PBB telah mengeluarkan kenyataan mendesak agar tindakan segera diambil untuk melindungi hak asasi manusia dan menghalang pembunuhan orang awam di Afghanistan serta keperluan untuk melindungi golongan paling rentan termasuk kanak-kanak, wanita dan gadis, pelarian, orang kurang upaya, pembela hak asasi manusia, wartawan dan media, pendidik dan ahli pertubuhan masyarakat sivil.

SUHAKAM diberitahu mengenai situasi mendesak di Afghanistan semasa Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan ke-26 Forum Asia Pasifik berkenaan Institusi Hak Asasi Manusia Kebangsaan (APF) yang diadakan pada 15 September 2021. SUHAKAM dimaklumkan tentang keadaan huru hara dan ketidakpastian sejak ibu negeri Afghanistan, Kabul diambil alih oleh Taliban pada 15 Ogos 2021 dan setiap ahli dan kakitangan Suruhanjaya Bebas Hak Asasi Manusia Afghanistan (AIHRC) berisiko kerana kerja-kerja Suruhanjaya melibatkan dokumentasi jenayah perang, jenayah kemanusiaan dan pelanggaran undang-undang kemanusiaan antarabangsa membabitkan Taliban. AIHRC telah memberikan tumpuan kepada usahanya untuk memindahkan kesemua kakitangan mereka meskipun ada antaranya telah melarikan diri ke negara jiran. Pada masa yang sama, AIHRC amat berharap agar Suruhanjaya ini tidak dibubarkan.

AIHRC juga memaklumkan bahawa media bebas dan aktivis hak asasi juga mengalami ancaman yang sama di mana mereka dipukul dan diseksa oleh Taliban. Sejak Julai 2020, sejumlah tujuh Pesuruhjaya dan kakitangan AIHRC telah terbunuh akibat serangan pengganas. AIHRC mengesyorkan tiga tindakan segera bagi perlindungan rakyat di Afghanistan iaitu:

1. AIHRC memohon mana-mana negara untuk menyediakan visa kepada orang yang dilindungi termasuk kakitangan AIHRC dan ahli keluarga mereka bagi membolehkan mereka menyelamatkan diri setelah penerbangan komersial kembali beroperasi;
2. Mengkoordinasi kenyataan yang tegas terutamanya daripada Negara-negara Islam untuk menyokong hak asasi manusia wanita dan gadis Afghanistan, terutamanya hak pekerjaan dan Pendidikan; dan
3. Agar Kerajaan menyokong Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia untuk memulakan Resolusi bagi menubuhkan misi mencari fakta untuk Afghanistan.

SUHAKAM memuji usaha Kerajaan Malaysia yang menggesa sesi khas ke-31 Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia untuk mengakui situasi hak asasi manusia yang membimbangkan dan keadaan di Afghanistan serta telah membuat rundingan mengenai draf resolusi Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia bertajuk: Mengukuhkan Promosi dan Perlindungan Hak Asasi Manusia di Republik Islam Afghanistan; dan penyertaan Menteri Luar Negeri dalam Mesyuarat Menteri Peringkat Tinggi mengenai Situasi Kemanusiaan di Afghanistan anjuran Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) pada 13 September 2021 yang menegaskan bahawa keselamatan, hak asasi dan kesejahteraan semua rakyat Afghanistan serta warganegara lain di negara itu perlu dilindungi.

Sehubungan itu, SUHAKAM menggesa semua pihak dan Kerajaan Malaysia untuk memberi pertimbangan untuk menyokong syor-syor yang dikemukakan oleh AIHRC dan komited untuk apa jua cara yang ada bagi menyediakan bantuan dan sokongan bagi membantu situasi hak asasi manusia di Afghanistan. SUHAKAM juga menyokong Kerajaan Malaysia untuk membawa perkara ini kepada perhatian Pertubuhan Kerjasama Islam (OIC) untuk mengkoordinasi bantuan kemanusiaan untuk rakyat Afghanistan; dan mengeluarkan kenyataan untuk menangani situasi hak asasi manusia di Afghanistan.

-TAMAT-

Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

17 September 2021

Pertanyaan Media: Sila hubungi Pn. Norashikin Hamzah melalui 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 atau shikin@suhakam.org.my