Last week at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Director of the Afghan LGBT Organisation (ALO), Artemis Akabary, delivered a statement during the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan on the Taliban’s denial of the right to healthcare to women and girls.
As Artemis explained, the de facto authorities’ ban on medical training for women, movement restrictions, and interference in sexual and reproductive health services are having a devastating effect including rising rates of maternal mortality rates and psychological problems.
Noting that LBQ women and girls are at heightened risk of discrimination, violence, and denial of confidential health services, Artemis called for:
- Full access to quality, gender-responsive, and non-discriminatory health services;
- Support the ICC and other international justice processes to hold the Taliban to account for gender persecution;
- Support for the International Investigative Mechanism on Afghanistan.
See here for the full transcript and recording of the intervention: LinkedIn Post
