Version imprimableAfghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)
Statement on the status of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
September 18, 2021
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is a national human rights institution with a mandate to protect and monitor human rights in Afghanistan. It was entrenched in Article 58 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. It is an independent institution in line with Resolution 134/48 of the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 and the Paris principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions.
Since August 15 the AIHRC continues in office but has been unable to fulfil its duties to the Afghan people. All AIHRC buildings have been occupied by Taliban forces, who have also made appointments and used AIHRC assets such as cars and computers. Furthermore, since the Taliban have consistently shown disregard for human rights, including attacks on human rights defenders and flagrant violations of international human rights standards, the leadership of the AIHRC has little confidence in a Taliban government to respect the mandate and independence of the AIHRC. Given the restrictions by the Taliban on women
