Briefing of Security CouncilGeorgette Gagnon, deputy special representative of the secretary-general for Afghanistan, and Tom Fletcher, UN emergency relief coordinator, said almost half the population will need protection and humanitarian assistance in 2026.

Women and girls remain “systematically excluded” from almost all aspects of public life, » said Ms. Gagnon, as the ban on secondary and higher education for girls is now in its fourth year, depriving the country of future doctors, teachers and leaders.

“Media freedom is increasingly restricted. Journalists face intimidation, detention and censorship, reducing space for public debate and public participation.» she added.

Afghans – women and men – also face daily intrusions under the de facto authorities’ law on “propagation of virtue and prevention of vice”, she added, describing a trend of systematic interference in privacy.

Humanitarian needs are increasing

At the same time, humanitarian needs are increasing. Mr Fletcher said almost 22 million people will need aid next year, with Afghanistan now one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

“For the first time in four years, the number of people facing hunger has increased,” He warned. Some 17.4 million Afghans are now food insecure, while massive funding cuts have left the response “stretched to the breaking point”.

More than 300 nutrition distribution points have closed, leaving 1.1 million children without life-saving nutrition, while 1.7 million of them face death without treatment. The health system is also collapsing: 422 health facilities were closed in 2025, depriving three million people of vital care.

Refugees return to poverty

To make matters worse, Afghanistan has seen record refugee returns, with more than 2.6 million Afghans returning in 2025 alone, bringing the two-year total to more than four million. Most arrive with few possessions and are absorbed into already poor communities.

“Women and children accounted for 60 percent of all returns this year,” Mr. Fletcher noted – returning to a country where women do not have access to education, work and, in some cases, health care.

Economic pressures are mounting despite modest growth. While GDP is expected to increase by 4.5 percent, per capita income will decline by about 4 percent due to population growth, according to World Bank figures cited by Ms. Gagnon.

Rural livelihoods have also been devastated by the third year of banning opium cultivation. Although praised internationally, UN agencies report a 48 percent drop in rural incomes, with additional support needed for alternative livelihoods.

Aid delivery paralyzed

While security conditions appear calmer than in previous decades, tensions with Pakistan are increasing amid cross-border exchanges linked to militant activities. At the same time, the closure of major border crossings for two months harmed trade and civilian life on both sides.

Meanwhile, women’s participation in humanitarian work remains under direct attack. Since September, female UN national staff have been barred from UN premises across the country, a restriction Mr Fletcher called “unacceptable” and warned was crippling aid delivery.

“There cannot be an effective humanitarian response without women,” he said. “Afghanistan needs it.»

Rights increasingly out of reach

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (MANUA) also warned that rights in the country remain “out of reach for too many,” particularly women and girls. Involuntary returns also put journalists, former officials and civil society figures at increased risk of reprisals.

“Human rights are not optional. These are the essential elements of everyday life that support life,” Ms. Gagnon said in a separate UNAMA statement statement. “Ensuring that women and girls can learn, work and participate fully is critical to Afghanistan’s recovery. »

Call for international support

Despite serious constraints, the UN continues to provide aid. More than $40 million in emergency funds have been released in recent months to respond to earthquakes, drought and mass returns.

But Mr Fletcher warned that underfunding is now costing lives.

“By 2026, we risk seeing a further contraction in life-saving assistance at a time when food insecurity, health needs are straining basic services and protection risks are increasing.» he said.

He stressed that without urgent attention and support from the international community, the crisis would only worsen.

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu –Inspiration and action

After months of anticipation and debate over the government’s controversial decision, under-16s found themselves excluded from popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, according to media reports.

The ban aims to protect young people from online abuse such as cyberbullying, exploitation and exposure to harmful content, all of which harm their mental health and wellbeing.

Bans could backfire on you

As other governments consider similar measures, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that age restrictions alone will not keep children safe.

“While UNICEF welcomes the growing commitment to child safety online, Social media bans carry their own risks, and they can even backfire on you“, the agency said in a declaration.

For many children, especially those who are isolated or marginalized, social media is a lifeline for learning, connection, play and self-expression, UNICEF said.

Additionally, many will continue to access social media – for example through workarounds, shared devices or using less regulated platforms – which will only make it more difficult to protect them.

Protection and respect for human rights

“Age restrictions must be part of a broader approach that protects children from harm, respects their rights to privacy and participation, and avoids pushing them into unregulated and less safe spaces,” the statement said.

“Regulation should not be a substitute for platforms investing in child safety. Laws introducing age restrictions are not an alternative to companies improving platform design and content moderation.”

THE UN human rights chief also weighed in during his end-of-year speech press conference in Geneva.

“We know how difficult it is for companies to tackle the question of how to keep children safe online,” Volker Türk said in response to a journalist’s question.

“Social media platforms were launched a few years ago, but I don’t think at the time of their launch, an assessment of their impact on human rights was actually carried out. »

Make the Internet Secure

UNICEF urges governments, regulators and technology companies to work with children and families to create a digital space that is safe, inclusive and respectful of children’s rights.

Authorities must ensure that age-related laws and regulations do not replace companies’ obligation to invest in designing safer platforms. and effective content moderation.

Additionally, social media products need to be redesigned, putting the safety and wellbeing of children at the centre, while regulators need to put in place systemic measures to effectively prevent and mitigate online harm.

Parent support

Other recommendations include helping parents and guardians improve their digital literacy.

“They have a crucial role, but they are currently being asked to do the impossible to protect their children online: monitoring platforms they did not design, controlling algorithms they cannot see, and managing dozens of apps around the clock,” UNICEF said.

The UN human rights chief noted that countries were trying to keep pace with technological developments and Australia was not alone in responding. The US state of California has a similar law to protect minors online, while the European Union is debating a bill.

“It is very important to continue to monitor what is workingwhich doesn’t work,” Mr. Türk said.

“But it is also very clear from a human rights perspective that the best interests of the child must be considered in all of this, including the protection and safety concerns that children face. »

“THE Security Council the resolution is very clear about not calling anything a border or anything else, this is territory that must be respected in its entirety“, he said, referring to a resolution adopted by the Council on November 17 in support of a comprehensive plan to end the conflict.

“We call on all parties to respect the ceasefire and ensure that we can effectively move on to the next phase. [of the peace plan]”, the High Commissioner told journalists in Geneva. Gaza “remains a place of unimaginable suffering, loss and fear. Even though the bloodshed has lessened, it has not stopped,” he insisted.

Resolution 2803 (2025) received 13 votes in favor and none against, with permanent members China and Russia abstaining.

The text welcomes the comprehensive plan announced by President Trump on September 29. The first phase of the 20-point plan led to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel a few days later.

Moving the “yellow line”

Most of last week’s violence was reported near the “Yellow Line”, whose large painted concrete blocks have shifted over the past week, causing “new waves” of displacement, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees. UNRWA.

In a scheduled update, the agency cited data from Gaza health authorities indicating that 360 Palestinians have been killed and 922 injured since the fragile ceasefire agreement took effect at the end of October. Since then, 617 additional bodies have also been found under the rubble.

Echoing these concerns, Mr. Türk said his Office had documented more than 350 attacks since the ceasefire began. Among the dead are seven women and 13 children.

“Israeli attacks continue, including against individuals approaching the so-called Yellow Line, residential buildings and [internally displaced persons] Tents and shelters for displaced people, as well as other civilian goods,” he told reporters.

In addition to the humanitarian emergency still unfolding in Gaza, the High Commissioner highlighted how the widespread psychological trauma affecting the population of the enclave constitutes “the most serious mental health crisis imaginable…Basically everyone is traumatized and especially the children.”

Meanwhile, at a press conference marking Human Rights DayMr. Türk also expressed deep concern over the “unprecedented levels of attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinians” and their lands in the occupied West Bank.

“This is the time to step up pressure and advocacy – not to fall into complacency,” he insisted.

A world of problems

Regarding the long-standing emergency situation in the east Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)The High Commissioner expressed deep concern over reports overnight of thousands of people fleeing the town of Uvira, South Kivu, amid clashes between M23 rebel fighters and the DRC armed forces, supported by the Wazalendo militia.

“This comes just days after the DRC and Rwanda “We reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the June 2025 Washington peace agreement,” Türk said, warning that the risk of a broader regional confrontation was increasing.

The High Commissioner also issued a stark warning that war crimes and potential crimes against humanity could occur in Sudan, where the war shows no signs of abating.

A state of emergency erupted in April 2023 when the transition to civilian rule failed and today the Sudanese armed forces continue to clash with rapid support paramilitary forces. Recently, the RSF invaded the town of El Fasher after besieging it for 18 months, leading to widespread reports of serious rights violations.

“From Darfur and Kordofan to Khartoum and Omdurman and beyond, no Sudanese civilian has been spared from this cruel and senseless violence,” Mr. Türk said. “We’re talking about thousands of people who were killed. There were summary executions, there were people who were trying to leave us, for sure, who were killed trying to leave… There were testimonies of rapes and gang rapes, including in front of family members… So yes, we’re talking about very serious atrocity crimes. War crimes, of course. Potentially crimes against humanity as well.”

Appeal from Ukraine

In UkraineThe High Commissioner noted that damage to civilians has increased sharply. Civilian casualties so far this year are 24 percent higher than the same period last year, he said, largely because of Russia’s increasing use of powerful long-range weapons in large numbers and its continued efforts “to capture more Ukrainian territory by armed force.”

Urgent measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering, Mr. Türk continued, “including the return of transferred children.” [allegedly taken to Russia]the exchange of all prisoners of war and the unconditional release of civilian detainees held by the Russian authorities.”

War on drugs

Asked to comment on the deadly strikes carried out by the US military against suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, the High Commissioner reiterated his position that these strikes constituted a violation of international law and human rights law and required “prompt and independent investigations”.

Reports indicate that more than 80 people have been killed in more than 20 attacks since September. On September 2, two survivors of a first strike were reportedly killed in a second attack.

Mr. Türk noted that as U.S. lawmakers continue to demand more information about these strikes, “I hope that they will lead to a rapid, serious and independent investigation so we can get to the bottom of what happened there.