Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, at the UNSC Quarterly Briefing on Afghanistan
New York, 16 September 2026
Thank you, Mister President,
At the outset, let me thank the Deputy SRSG for Afghanistan,
Ms Georgette Gagnon, for her insightful briefing. I would also like to thank
Ms Nargis Nehan for bringing the voice of Afghan women to this meeting and for her continued strength and resilience in the fight for the rights of women and girls of Afghanistan.
Mister President, I would like to raise three points.
First, five years have passed since the Taliban returned to power. Education, employment, healthcare and public life have been closed off to half the population, while ethnic and religious communities have been targeted, peaceful protesters suppressed, women arrested for non-compliance with dress-code requirements in Herat, and journalists detained. For Afghan women and girls, these five years have meant being denied any chance to shape their own lives and their own futures.
This cannot become normalized. Girls who were only new-borns in August 2021 are now five years old. The longer these restrictions continue, the greater the risk that they will grow up believing that a life without even the most basic human rights is the only fate available to them.
As a woman from Nangarhar told UN Women: “Even if I have hopes or dreams, I know I will not be able to achieve them, because it is not what is expected of women”. End of quote.
We must not accept a reality in which women and girls are taught to abandon their hopes before they have had the chance to pursue them. Latvia continues to call on the Taliban to reverse these policies and on the international community to remain principled, treating the human rights of Afghans, particularly of women and girls, as a matter of priority.
Second, UNAMA remains essential to the Afghan people. We reaffirm the need for its continued presence and welcome the appointment of Ms. Rabab Fatima as the SRSG for Afghanistan and Head of Mission. Her leadership will be critical to advancing the humanitarian, human rights, and the political tracks in Afghanistan, including an inclusive Doha Process.
We continue to urge the Taliban to engage meaningfully with UNAMA and demand that they cease obstructing the UN's ability to fulfil its mandate. A whole year has passed since Afghan female staff have been denied entry to UN premises, despite the Mission’s sustained efforts to find a practical way forward. This is totally unacceptable. The Taliban must end this ban without further delay.
Third, the Taliban must uphold their commitment to counterterrorism. The presence of numerous terrorist groups and foreign terrorist fighters demonstrates that Afghanistan under the Taliban rule can once again turn into a safe haven for terrorism, serving as training ground for extremism, posing a threat to the entire region. Terrorist activity, including the recent attack on a school in Kabul, is just one grave example.
Mr. President,
After five years, the international community’s message has not changed. We are asking for three things: respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; inclusive governance; and a real commitment to combating terrorism.
If we allow these principles and responsibilities to be disregarded in one place, it could become a precedent elsewhere. As other speakers have
said – what happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. We cannot allow fundamental rights to be eroded and ultimately forgotten. Latvia will continue to stand up for the rights and dignity of the Afghan people, especially women and girls.
I thank you.