SIDE EVENT: ERASED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN – VOICES FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN AFGHANISTAN
Remarks by H.E Ms Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
29 September 2025
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Women’s and girls’ human rights in Afghanistan, as in every country, are a global imperative.
As you know, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has demonstrated contempt for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, through a campaign of sustained and systematic oppression that seeks to silence and erase women from public life.
Australia remains gravely concerned by the worsening situation in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are with Afghans around the world – and we continue to support and advocate for the Afghan people.
As Australia’s Foreign Minister said during the UNGA Open Debate last year “the Taliban have erased women from Afghanistan’s self-portrait. Effectively imprisoning half their society’s population immediately halves their country’s potential”.
This is why one year ago, Australia, together with Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, commenced action to hold Afghanistan to account for its violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) under the Taliban.
In commencing action under CEDAW, we united with States from all regions of the world on the importance of strong international action to respond to the gross and systematic human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan.
One year on, we continue to pursue negotiations as provided for under CEDAW and condemn the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to silence Afghan women and girls and deny their human rights.
Australia is committed to working together to ensure that that Afghanistan adheres to its international human rights obligations to respect, protect and promote the human rights of women and girls.