Background

To inform the Special Rapporteur’s upcoming report on the phenomenon of an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity and exclusion of women and girls, scheduled for presentation during the 56^th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2024, stakeholders are invited to provide valuable input. The Special Rapporteur invites States, UN bodies, international organizations, civil society organizations, academics, victims’ groups, legal practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders to share information pertinent to the topics identified below.

Types of input sought

While links/URLs to published research and analysis and additional documents can be included as part of the responses, the Special Rapporteur can only guarantee the analysis of the information included in the form. Please do not attach any personal identification document.

Submitting individuals and organizations are encouraged to focus on describing their own research and analysis rather than summarizing the findings of others. They need not respond to all the questions; rather, they are encouraged to address only those for which they possess pertinent information.

Submitting individuals and organizations are requested to fill in the questionnaire below and submit it by e-mail.

• Download the questionnaire (WORD): 
  English

Note: Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us via above email. Thank you for your attention and anticipated contributions.

Key questions 

1. If applicable, please provide your personal experience of and insights into human rights violations, including but not limited to accounts of gender-based violence including sexual violence and abuse, femicide, domestic violence, forced and early marriage, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. The word limit for your response is 200 words.
2. Where you or your organisation are supporting victims and survivors and/or are engaged in documentation, please provide factual information and specific accounts of discrimination, segregation and exclusion experienced by women and girls in Afghanistan. Please also include information on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and characteristics. This can encompass any disparities and barriers in access to economic empowerment, healthcare, social and political participation, access to justice, freedom of movement and any other economic, social, cultural as well as civil and political rights. The word limit for your response is 300 words.
3. Please provide information about ongoing accountability initiatives aimed at providing justice, reparations for victims/survivors, and/or accountability for perpetrators. The word limit for your response is 200 words.
4. Please offer ideas and suggestions on strategies, support mechanisms or other measures that the international community (i.e. SR mandate, States, and international organizations) could take to positively impact the lives of women, girls and sexual and gender minorities in Afghanistan. This also includes your identified priorities for such as enhancing mental health support, facilitating online education, fostering online legal aid, enabling remote contracting and business or any other ideas. Furthermore, how can the international community effectively contribute to addressing these priorities and providing tangible assistance to empower women and girls in Afghanistan? The word limit for your response is 400 words.