Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to alleviate the repression of people, and in particular women, in Afghanistan; the engagements he has had in support of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45363/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have taken a clear and consistent stand in support of women and girls in Afghanistan. Ireland regularly speaks out at the EU, UN and other international fora against the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities .

In our recent national statement to the current session of the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee dealing with human rights, we strongly condemned the widespread human rights abuses by the Taliban and denounced their systematic oppression and exclusion of women and girls, which the Special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan has concluded may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity. We called for the full reversal of the Taliban's decrees and for accountability of those responsible for human rights abuses.

This year, Ireland has also delivered statements on the human rights crisis in Afghanistan at the 55th, 56th and 57th sessions of the Human Rights Council and during Afghanistan's Universal Periodic Review.

During UN High Level Week in September, I was honoured to co-host, alongside Indonesia, Switzerland and Qatar, and in partnership with the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan, an event entitled ‘The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan’, where I pledged Ireland's continued support for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and made clear that we will work to ensure that the issue remains a priority on the international agenda.

Last month, during UN Women Peace and Security week, Ireland's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York co-hosted a discussion, alongside Canada and a consortium of NGOs, on the reality for women and girls in Afghanistan. The discussion provided a safe space for Afghan women, both inside and outside Afghanistan, to speak freely on their lived experiences under the Taliban's rule.

Ireland also joined a declaration supporting an initiative being taken by Germany, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands under Article 29 of CEDAW. The declaration condemns the gross and systematic human rights abuses in Afghanistan, particularly the gender-based discrimination, and calls upon Afghanistan and the Taliban to answer the request for dialogue on these issues. The declaration also confirms the continued consideration of other possible options under CEDAW and other relevant human rights frameworks.

The advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will continue to be a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. Afghan women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in public life is their right and is also vital to ensure sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. We will continue to use all avenues possible to ensure that the human rights of women and girls are fully restored in Afghanistan.