Della Vedova in Geneva: focus on Afghanistan, human rights for peace

GENEVA, SEPTEMBER 14 – “In a global context of widespread human rights violations and abuses exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is our duty to redouble our efforts to make our societies more equitable, inclusive, greener and more equitable, leaving no one behind,” said today Benedetto Della Vedova, the Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, speaking at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council underway in Geneva until October 8.

“In line with the slogan of our mandate in the Council – “Human Rights for Peace” – we firmly believe that societies can be truly peaceful, resilient and sustainable only when human rights are fully guaranteed to all,” added Della Vedova who began his day at the Palais des Nations with a meeting with High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet.

This is the last regular session for Italy as a member of the Council: “In these three years we have worked tirelessly to draw the attention of the international community to the most serious human rights situations, as well as to promote a number of priority issues, including the fight against all forms of discrimination, the promotion of gender equality and the fight against all forms of violence against women,” said the Undersecretary, stressing that the situation in Afghanistan is among the priorities of the current session because developments in that country “threaten to reverse the political, economic and social achievements of the Afghan people over the past two decades.”

In a statement sponsored and delivered by Italy on behalf of 48 countries, Della Vedova expressed deep concern over reports “of serious violations of international humanitarian law, human rights abuses and violations in areas of Afghanistan,” and condemned “all arbitrary and extrajudicial killings of civilians and peaceful protesters, violence against civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, early and forced child marriages, sexual slavery, as well as the destruction of critical infrastructure and looting of cultural heritage committed by the Taliban and/or terrorist groups.”

The statement reiterates the belief that there is an urgent need to establish an independent mechanism, which should have free access to Afghan territory, to investigate and promote accountability for violations and abuses committed by all Afghan parties and to monitor the human rights situation in the future. In order to preserve its role and credibility,” said the Undersecretary, “the Council must act in a manner commensurate with the seriousness of the situation to prevent a future and further deterioration of human rights. (@OnuItalia)