KABUL - UNAMA today hosted a meeting in Kabul with representatives of the Hazara community.

As part of its good offices mandate, UNAMA invited participants for an open discussion, chaired by Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. A broad range of issues were discussed, including the tragic 23 July suicide attack in Kabul claimed by Daesh against peaceful demonstrators, which resulted in the deaths of at least 85 civilians and injured more than 400 others.

The findings of UNAMA’s independent human rights investigation of the attack were shared with participants at the meeting. UNAMA has produced a report on the attack as part of its mandated, and internationally respected, work on human rights in Afghanistan and the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The report will be released shortly.

Participants included Members of Parliament, representatives of civil society groups, including the Enlightening Movement, as well as Dr. Sima Samar, Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

UNAMA is encouraged by the Government’s readiness to invite members of the Hazara community, including the Enlightening Movement, for talks. The Mission welcomes the willingness of all sides to engage in dialogue, urges them to seize this opportunity, and stands ready to support such a process. While reaffirming the right of all Afghans to peaceful assembly, UNAMA calls for the postponement of planned demonstrations.