Title: Afghanistan Shall Not Be Forgotten

Submitted by: Liberal Democrats UK, British Group of Liberal International (LIBG), FDP (Germany) & the German Group of Liberal International (DGLI)

Congress notes:

• The Taliban take-over of Afghanistan by military force, rejection of democracy, clamp down on media, extrajudicial killings and disappearances, which raise serious concerns about their legitimacy. 
• The continuing ban on girls’ schooling above 6th grade – and further tightened restrictions on women’s rights – despite access to education being a fundamental Islamic and civic right. 
• The award of the 2021 Liberal International Prize for Freedom to Dr Sima Samar, former Chairperson of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission 
• China and Russia’s engagement with the Taliban, potentially undermining efforts to improve human rights. 
• No sign that the Taliban are limiting the activities of foreign terrorist fighters according to a UN sanctions monitoring report. 
• The UN and NGOs lessening terrible deprivation by distributing US1.67 billion humanitarian assistance by end 2021. 
• President Biden’s appropriation of half of the USD 7 billion in frozen Afghan Central Bank assets to pay compensation to the families of victims of the 9/11 attack pending a court ruling. 

Congress believes:

• The Taliban has so far failed to form an inclusive government; to govern in tolerance; to recognize and protect in particular the universal rights of women and minorities, including LGBTI, allowing their full participation in Afghan life. 
• Dialogue with Taliban leaders and factions should nonetheless continue to seek improvements.  

Congress calls for :

• The continued withholding of international recognition of the Taliban regime, keeping sanctions in place and blocking the regime’s access to the international financial system, until Afghanistan has a more inclusive government respecting everyone’s rights. 
• The immediate opening of all schools to girls and restoring the right of women to gainful employment, targeting donor development at those districts which allow equal access to education and greater respect for human rights. 
• The US to transfer the US$ 7 billion of Afghan Central Bank frozen assets in full to an UN-administered trust fund for humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and in support of private sector job creation based on equal opportunity for both Afghan women and men.
• Countries with land borders to continue facilitating the movement of refugees to their final destinations; that all countries should open their doors generously to Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who should be allowed to seek gainful employment to live in dignity in their host countries until it might be safe to return to Afghanistan.