Participation of the Afghanistan Organization for Development of Human Rights (AODHR) in the 24rth Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC)
1–6 December, World Forum, The Hague, Netherlands
From 1 to 6 December, representatives of the Afghanistan Organization for Development of Human Rights (AODHR) participated in the 23rd Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the International Criminal Court (ICC), held at the World Forum in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The Assembly brought together representatives of member states, civil society organizations, international institutions, and human rights defenders from across the globe to discuss key developments related to international justice, accountability, and the functioning of the ICC.
AODHR’s participation aimed to highlight the critical human rights situation in Afghanistan, ensure that crimes committed by the Taliban remain high on the ICC agenda, and strengthen cooperation with international institutions working on justice and accountability.
Throughout the Assembly, AODHR representatives held a series of high-level meetings with senior ICC officials, including:
• The President of the International Criminal Court
• The Prosecutor of the ICC
• The Registrar of the ICC
• The President of the Assembly of States Parties
These meetings provided an important opportunity to present updated evidence and documentation regarding:
• Widespread human rights violations committed by the Taliban
• Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances
• Systematic violence against women and girls
• Targeted persecution of ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities
• Crimes against former government and security officials
• Suppression of journalists, activists, and civil society groups
During these discussions, AODHR emphasized the urgent need for:
1. Strengthening the ICC’s investigative focus on Afghanistan
2. Enhancing cooperation with Afghan human rights organizations
3. Ensuring protection for Afghan refugees and activists at risk
4. Documenting and preserving evidence of international crimes committed by the Taliban
ICC officials acknowledged the severity of the situation in Afghanistan and expressed their commitment to continued engagement and cooperation with civil society organizations. They reaffirmed that Afghanistan remains within the jurisdiction of the Court and that the situation continues to be monitored closely.
On the second day of the Assembly, AODHR’s representative delivered an official statement before the plenary session on behalf of a coalition of Afghan human rights organizations.
The statement highlighted:
• The worsening humanitarian and human rights crisis under Taliban rule
• The need for the ICC to prioritize investigations into crimes committed since jurisdection of ICC on Afghanistan
• The importance of safeguarding Afghan witnesses, victims, and human rights defenders
• The role of the ICC in preventing impunity and ensuring justice for Afghan victims
The statement also called on member states to:
• Provide stronger political and financial support for the ICC’s Afghanistan investigation
• Facilitate humanitarian visas for Afghan activists at risk
• Increase attention to crimes against women, minorities, and vulnerable groups
• Support documentation and evidence preservation initiatives led by Afghan civil society
The plenary session welcomed the intervention, and several delegations expressed appreciation for AODHR’s continuous efforts to document violations and advocate for justice for the Afghan people.
Beyond official ICC meetings, AODHR representatives held discussions with:
• International human rights organizations
• Legal experts and justice coalitions
• Representatives of victims’ associations
• European and North American civil society networks
These exchanges focused on strengthening collaboration on:
• Documentation of international crimes
• Legal analysis and submission of case files to international mechanisms
• Protection measures for Afghan human rights defenders
• Advocacy strategies for keeping Afghanistan on the global justice agenda
AODHR also participated in several side events organized by international NGOs, which addressed accountability for atrocity crimes, the role of civil society in ICC proceedings, and protection of human rights defenders.
AODHR’s active participation resulted in:
• Enhanced engagement with ICC senior leadership
• Reaffirmed commitment from ICC officials to monitor and investigate crimes in Afghanistan
• Increased visibility of the human rights crisis under the Taliban
• Strengthened partnerships with international civil society organizations
• Successful delivery of a unified Afghan civil society statement at the Assembly
• New opportunities for collaboration on documentation, advocacy, and protection of activists
AODHR’s involvement in the 24rth Assembly of States Parties to the ICC marked an important step in advancing justice and accountability for the people of Afghanistan.
At a time when the Taliban continue to commit grave violations with impunity, international cooperation remains essential. AODHR reaffirms its commitment to working closely with international partners, providing evidence of crimes, supporting victims, and advocating for a justice process that reflects the suffering and demands of the Afghan people.
AODHR will continue to engage with the ICC and global human rights networks to ensure that Afghanistan remains a priority on the international justice agenda and that the voices of victims are not forgotten
