Middle East Peace Process and Human Rights in Afghanistan Highlighted in Recent UN Reports
Ramiz Alakbarov, the acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, addressed the Security Council regarding the situation in Gaza one year after the ceasefire was declared. He reported that while some progress has been made, conditions remain precarious, with the Israeli military operations responsible for approximately 1,500 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
During a visit to Gaza on Sunday, Alakbarov noted that many Palestinians living along the Yellow Line experience a ceasefire that exists only in name. He described the dire living conditions in Gaza, where families reside in worn-out tents and crowded displacement sites. He highlighted the destruction of water and sanitation systems, warning that continued inaction could cement the existing fragile state as a permanent reality.
Alakbarov emphasized a growing sense of despair among the population, stating that many individuals have seen scant improvement in their circumstances. He expressed concern that the risk of renewed conflict has reached alarming levels, noting that “this frustration cannot build indefinitely.” In addition, he reported an alarming rise in settler violence in the West Bank, with daily attacks on Palestinians and their property often occurring in the presence of Israeli forces. He warned that this violence contributes to the fragmentation of Palestinian communities and undermines the possibility of a future sovereign state.
In a separate report, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released findings on the human rights situation for the period from July to September. The report documented at least 443 arbitrary arrests and detentions, alongside 97 incidents of ill-treatment of Afghan individuals by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Journalists face ongoing threats, including arbitrary arrests, and several media outlets were suspended during this timeframe.
The findings are available for viewing online.
Meanwhile, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), held a session of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy for participants from Central Asia and Afghanistan. Discussions revolved around drug-use trends, health risks, and preventive measures involving families, schools, and communities. The session emphasized the significance of understanding the international legal framework for combating human trafficking, focusing on identifying and addressing exploitation.
On the international stage, Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Spehar briefed member states at the Palais des Nations in Geneva about the newly integrated Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (PBPSO). She discussed the office’s role in promoting prevention and peacebuilding efforts and highlighted a report advocating for increased investments in peace in light of rising global military spending. The briefing also covered the connections between peacebuilding and human rights, emphasizing the need for cooperation with regional organizations. Spehar is scheduled to continue her discussions this week at the Geneva Peace Forum.
