HRC63 - Iceland Statement - Side event on supporting Women Human Rights Defenders in Times of Crisis

Human Right Council 63rd Session
Providing protection and advocacy support to Women Human Rights Defenders in Times of Crisis: Lessons from WPHF
Opening remarks by Iceland
Side event held on 9 September 2026

Dear colleagues, friends, excellencies

The situation in Afghanistan continues to be a cause of great concern. As we heard from the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan on Monday, women and girls face systematic discrimination, with education and employment restricted and new decrees that further institutionalize discrimination. Afghan women are facing severe systematic erasure but yet they continue to resist, finding ways to make their voices heard.

Iceland is a committed supporter of the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund and its work both in Afghanistan and in Ukraine. In our view, the fund’s financial resources are a key enabler for women-led organisations on the ground. Further, quality funding to local women’s rights organisations is crucial for women in conflict areas and essential for authentic localisation of the Women Peace and Security agenda.

The fund’s mission aligns well with Iceland’s focus on gender equality and women, peace and security as outlined in our international development cooperation policy. It also underscores our goal to support communities directly, ensuring local implementation and participation in socio-economic recovery and peace building.

There is important strength and resilience in all women and girls. We believe that by harnessing that strength, there are possibilities to drive societies forward.

I look forward to hearing from the panellists here today on the lessons learned on providing protection and advocacy support to Women Human Rights Defenders in Times of Crisis. The situation in Afghanistan is an unparalleled crisis of women’s and girls’ rights, and we must do our utmost to ensure we keep it on the world’s agenda.

I thank you.