Parliamentary Committee Notes: Afghanistan today: political, economic, humanitarian, security context
Canada's priorities are: (i) safe passage for Canadians and vulnerable Afghans; (ii) the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance; (iii) the Taliban's respect for its international obligations, notably to respect the human rights of all Afghans; and, (iv) coordination with partners on counter-terrorism.
Deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis, the deteriorating human rights situation, and grave impact of the Taliban's violations of Afghan women's and girls' rights.
Committed to Afghanistan and the Afghan people and we will continue to do all we can to support them.
Background
Political Situation
Since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have demonstrated no desire to form an inclusive government, to provide basic services to the Afghan people, or to fulfill their international obligations to respect human rights. No country has recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, although a limited number maintain diplomatic missions in Kabul, and some regional states have accredited Taliban-appointed diplomats in their capitals. The UN continues to play a very active role in Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) oversees humanitarian coordination and monitors human rights and security trends from within Afghanistan. The UN Security Council meets quarterly to discuss Afghanistan and receives briefings by Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Roza Otunbayeva. The UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, was recently barred by the Taliban from entering Afghanistan, after being accused of "spreading propaganda".
Human Rights Situation
Since 2021, the Taliban have suspended Afghanistan's constitution, eliminated the justice systems across the country, and issued over 100 decrees restricting the rights and freedoms of women and girls. As a result, women and girls cannot access secondary or post-secondary education, are barred from engaging in most economic activities and public life and are severely restricted from leaving their homes without a male guardian. Most recently, the Taliban introduced a series of new "Vice and Virtue" laws, to be enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV). Mostly targeting women, these "Morality Laws" prohibit women from talking, singing or reading aloud. Afghan women are also not allowed to look directly at men to whom they are not related or married. Women who fail to comply can be detained, punished and subjected to violence by Taliban officials responsible for upholding the new laws.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have been promoting the establishment of an expansive system of madrassas across Afghanistan, including "jihadi madrassas" that promote extremist teachings. Taliban sharia "courts" have been established and have carried out hundreds of public corporal punishments, including lashings and public executions, against men, women and children for alleged crimes such as adultery and "running away from home". The situation has led the UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, along with other UN experts, to call for investigations of the Taliban for possible gender persecution, a crime against humanity under international law.
Economic Situation
The Afghan economy has stabilized at a level that is 25% smaller since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The economic outlook remains uncertain with high vulnerability and poverty indicators – 15.3 million Afghans are acutely food insecure. There are no clear engines of growth and current fiscal policy, investment risks, and barriers in access to finance are not encouraging for the near future. Education systems, which currently exclude millions of girls above the primary level, will be unable to meet Afghanistan's future economic needs. Unemployment challenges are most severe among youth and women.
Humanitarian and Basic Needs Situation
Afghanistan faces deep economic and humanitarian crises compounded by the fallout of forty years of conflict, entrenched poverty, extreme climate conditions, and the Taliban's repressive policies. 23.7 million Afghans are in need of critical humanitarian services in 2024, with 15 million expected to experience food insecurity this year. Earthquakes in Herat province in October 2023 directly affected over 43,000 people at the onset of winter, and relief efforts remain ongoing into 2024. In recent months, inflows of Afghan returnees from Pakistan have strained already over-extended essential services and put significant burden on existing resources and labour markets in areas of return. Floods in May 2024 caused extensive damage to housing, infrastructure, and livestock in central and northern regions. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates 180 people have died with another 29,000 affected. Against this backdrop, the international community continues to advocate for a reversal of the ban on female Afghan nationals from working for NGOs, who play a crucial role in facilitating Afghan women's and girls' access to critical health and protection services.
Security Situation
Although Afghanistan is no longer experiencing active violent conflict, the security situation remains volatile. With Taliban complicity, al-Qaeda and other transnational terrorist groups continue to maintain a presence in Afghanistan. Since August 2021, Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP) has stepped up its presence and increased the number of attacks targeting education facilities, religious sites, minority groups, (in particular the minority Hazara population) Taliban forces, and diplomatic facilities. Taliban rule has contributed to growing resentment and limited armed resistance in the north, led by Tajik-dominated groups. The threat posed by the increased presence of foreign fighters and terrorist groups in Afghanistan and the potential for Afghanistan to once again become a haven for transnational terrorists is of real concern to the international community.
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