Official Statement
Afghanistan Women’s Justice Movement (AWJM)
15th of Mehr 1404 / 7 October 2025 – Oslo / Kabul / Islamabad
In Support of the UN Human Rights Council Resolution and the Establishment of an Independent Accountability Mechanism in Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Women’s Justice Movement (AWJM) warmly welcomes the adoption of the UN Human Rights Council resolution establishing an independent accountability mechanism for Afghanistan, which aims to investigate and document widespread human rights violations in the country. This historic initiative represents a global commitment to end impunity for international crimes and to support victims of abuse, marking a pivotal step toward restoring justice and the rule of law in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan today is facing a severe human rights crisis, with systematic violations targeting women, girls, ethnic and religious minorities, civil society activists, and journalists. The deprivation of women and girls’ rights to education, social participation, freedom of expression, economic opportunity, and healthcare constitutes a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and amounts to gender-based abuse and crimes against humanity (Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998). These violations starkly contradict Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which guarantees equal access to education, as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966).
The establishment of this independent mechanism by the UN Human Rights Council provides an unprecedented opportunity for documentation, investigation, and evidence collection to hold perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and serious human rights abuses accountable. This includes Taliban leaders, provincial governors, and local officials. Drawing on comparable experiences in Syria and Myanmar, the mechanism is expected to adopt a comprehensive, transparent, and independent approach, ensuring that the voices of Afghan victims are amplified internationally.
AWJM emphasizes that international justice is not a tool of revenge but a guarantee for restoring public trust, upholding the rule of law, and preventing future atrocities. We call upon the international community, the UN Security Council, the International Criminal Court, and other human rights organizations to provide sustained political, financial, and security support to enable the effective implementation of this mechanism.
The current situation in Afghanistan goes beyond individual violations. It has resulted in the suppression of civil society, the censorship of independent media, restrictions on freedom of expression, and systematic marginalization of women in public and political life. Depriving women of education and work opportunities, restricting their freedoms, and imposing severe social and cultural constraints have entrenched a gender-based apartheid system and authoritarian control across the country.
The Afghan Women’s Justice Movement stresses the importance of accurate documentation of violations, evidence preservation, and robust support for victims, particularly women and girls, as essential prerequisites for legal accountability and adherence to international laws and treaties.
We further highlight the critical need to support human rights defenders, women’s organizations, and independent media. Only sustained international assistance can ensure that victims experience justice and that Afghan civil society possesses the voice, authority, and security needed to participate in rebuilding the country.
AWJM is committed to professionally documenting violations, amplifying victims’ voices, and pursuing international legal avenues. Even if video or media dissemination is limited, publishing this statement through official websites and information networks sends a strong and impactful message to the global public.
We affirm that the independent accountability mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council can serve as a landmark step toward restoring justice, the rule of law, and accountability for perpetrators of international crimes in Afghanistan. The Afghan Women’s Justice Movement firmly believes that upholding women’s rights, achieving social justice, and ending systemic human rights abuses are essential for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.
Leadership Board
Afghanistan Women’s Justice Movement (AWJM)
