69340 (2024). Hon Phil Twyford to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

69340 (2024). Hon Phil Twyford to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Was the Government invited or given an opportunity to sign on to the statement of 26.09.2024 about the Taliban’s violations of the human rights of women and girls by Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Finland, Honduras, Ireland, Iceland, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: The Government was briefed on partners’ intention to engage with the de facto authorities in Afghanistan on obligations set out in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and invited to support the initiative. The Government offered New Zealand’s support for the underlying objectives, and outlined the efforts taken by New Zealand in a range of fora to address the Taliban’s human rights violations committed against women and girls. The Government will continue to monitor developments and consider next steps, including in association with partners. New Zealand remains gravely concerned by the human rights situation in Afghanistan.