e cannot turn our back on the people of Afghanistan! The consequences would be felt, above all, by the millions of women and girls, human rights defenders and minorities who face an uncertain future. We have to remain engaged and we have to offer the urgently needed humanitarian aid.

Covid-19alsoobscurestomanypeopletheeventsinneighboringBelarus,wheresinceAugust2020hundredsofthousandsofpeoplehavecomeoutdailyforpeacefulprotestsdemandingjustonething:respectfortheelectionresult.Inresponsetheyencounteredpolicebatons,teargasand,oftentimes,bulletsusedbytheregimetodefenditselfagainstitsownpeople.AsIspeakmorethan650personsareinprisonsinBelarus,themajorityofthemyoungwomenandmen,patriots,whosimplywantedtochoosetheirleaderinfairelections.Akangaroocourthaslatelysentencedtwoofthem–MaryaKalesnikavaandMaximZnak-to10and11yearsinprisonrespectively.AlongwiththemtheleadersofthePolishminorityinBelarus–AndżelikaBorysandAndrzejPoczobut–areeitherdetainedorimprisonedfortheirdemocraticactivity.Thesearejustafewnamesfromamonghundredsofthosepersecuted.Wedemandtheirreleaseandexpectgreatersolidarityfromtheinternationalcommunity

Such cases when political activists and human rights defenders are tortured and killed must be carefullyinvestigated