Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

There has been significant progress on human rights in Afghanistan since 2001, particularly on women’s rights, freedom of speech and access to education. However, these gains are fragile and the overall human rights picture remains poor. The insurgency continues to be the biggest threat to human rights in Afghanistan, leading to a high number of civilian casualties and affecting access to education and health; and freedom of movement. In particular, there remain obstacles for women. The promotion of human rights in Afghanistan continues to be a priority for the UK. Further information on the human rights situation in Afghanistan can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights Report 2017.