Champion Voices is our new thought leadership series bringing the personal experiences and reflections of our Champions to the forefront. With each contribution, we will hear from a different Champion on a topic that matters to them. From what first sparked their interest in gender equality work to the lessons learned along the way, Champion Voices moves beyond the policy papers to shine a light on the authentic experiences, challenges, and motivations that shape our Champions' work. In this fifth edition, Ambassador Deike Potzel of the European Union to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, calls on the international community to continue pursuing justice for Afghan women: by supporting accountability efforts, investing in women-led organisations and ensuring that Afghan women are heard in decisions affecting their future.
I am very upset. As a human being, as a woman and as a mother, I am upset that the immense suffering of women and girls in Afghanistan is not met with constant attention and action.
How is it that the silencing of half a country's population is not sending more shockwaves through the world? We are living in the twenty-first century, yet the fundamental principle enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, is being denied to Afghan women and girls every day.
Since the Taliban returned to power, girls have been deprived of the opportunity to shape their own lives, their present and their future. Restrictions have stripped women of their freedoms, their public presence and their ability to participate in society.
Reports of escalating repression, including recent decrees that further endanger women within their own homes, are deeply alarming. The situation has led to growing calls for accountability for potential crimes against humanity of gender persecution.
It is difficult to comprehend the scale of this injustice. But what is equally troubling and what truly pains me is that we still need to say: women and girls are not lesser human beings. They are not men's property. They are equal – in dignity and rights.
The rights to education, freedom of movement, public participation and personal safety are not privileges to be granted or withdrawn. They are fundamental human rights. Yet Afghan women and girls continue to be denied these rights, simply because they are female. This needs to be called out continuously.
Not to forget: Justice is essential for victims and survivors. Accountability matters. It is fundamental to the prospects for lasting peace and stability.
This is why the European Union leads efforts at the Human Rights Council to extend the important mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. In 2025, we also pushed for the establishment of an investigative mechanism for Afghanistan, and the EU will financially support the operationalization of this mechanism. We also continue our assistance to the Afghan people, channelled through humanitarian partners working on the ground.
Civil society, and women's organisations in particular, have a crucial role in documenting violations, advocating for human rights and keeping the pursuit of justice alive. This work must be sustained, coordinated and grounded in the voices and experiences of Afghans themselves.
I hope and trust that there continue to be many who keep shining a light on Afghanistan, listening to those who refuse to be silenced and turn solidarity into action.
I have not lost hope. But hope must be matched by political will, resources and a determination to hold perpetrators accountable. Afghan women and girls deserve nothing less.
And let me finish by this: How would the world react if it was men suffering this kind of injustice?