Thank you, Chair.
I would like to make a quick point on the question of whether or not the Taliban are listening. I think the Taliban have not been listening for the past two years, partly because of the mixed messaging they have been receiving from the international community. Until very recently, the situation of women in Afghanistan was not really at the top of the international agenda. Given the intensity and systematic nature of violence towards women in Afghanistan, I think it still does not receive as much attention as it should have from the international community.
I think the situation of groups such as the Hazaras in Afghanistan is not at the top of the international agenda. I think one thing Canada can consider doing is to recognize the nature of the situation in Afghanistan with regard to people like the Hazaras.
They can also use and support international mechanisms for documenting and supporting international investigations. I think human rights groups for many years have also been calling for independent investigation mechanisms created by the UN Human Rights Council. I think that would be one step, and supporting investigations by the International Criminal Court, for example, would be another.
Afghanistan has been a state party to the International Criminal Court since 2003, and there is an ongoing investigation, but the investigation hasn't really been making much progress. I think there is a need for international attention to place human rights and mass atrocity prevention at the centre of international engagement with regard to Afghanistan.
Thank you.