Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur, sheds light on alarming conditions affecting millions in Afghanistan under Taliban control, particularly targeting women, children, and ethnic minorities.
By: Abbas Changezi
In his latest report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, details alarming conditions and widespread human rights abuses affecting millions under Taliban rule. The report, part of the Annual Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, outlines systemic abuses primarily affecting women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hazara community.
Bennett’s report provides a comprehensive overview of the prevailing issues in Afghanistan, focusing on the continued denial of fundamental rights and freedoms for women and girls, ethnoreligious discrimination, and the increased targeting of vulnerable groups.
Systematic Suppression of Women’s Rights
The report strongly condemns the Taliban’s policies, which institutionalize discrimination and infringe upon women’s fundamental freedoms. The recent prohibition of Afghan women working for UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has severely impacted the socio-economic landscape. The Rapporteur underscores that these Taliban policies are not only discriminatory but also structurally entrench a system of exclusion that “should shock the conscience of humanity.” These policies also hinder international assistance efforts, cutting off essential humanitarian aid to women and families in need and worsening the overall humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s so-called “Law on Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” is a focal point of the report, as it encapsulates the Taliban’s discriminatory policies against women, restricting their freedom of movement, employment, and access to education. This law, according to Bennett, could amount to gender-based persecution, a violation of international humanitarian law. His report calls for the immediate repeal of such oppressive regulations and stresses the need for an inclusive and equitable educational system that allows girls of all ages the right to education, a fundamental human right that the Taliban regime has actively obstructed.
Ethnic and Religious Discrimination Against the Hazara Community
Bennett’s report also highlights the plight of Afghanistan’s ethnic and religious minorities, specifically the Hazara community, who face ongoing violence and systemic discrimination. Incidents targeting Hazaras underscore the Taliban’s disregard for the rights and safety of minority groups. This ethnoreligious discrimination is part of a larger, systemic marginalization that prevents these communities from participating in social, political, and economic life, isolating them from vital services.
The report criticizes the Taliban’s policies that prevent Hazaras and other marginalized communities from achieving equal representation and urges the Taliban to guarantee non-discriminatory laws and practices, fostering inclusion rather than exclusion.
Violence Against Children and Exploitation of Vulnerable Groups
The issue of violence against children, including the reprehensible practice of *bacha bazi* (sexual slavery of boys), early and forced marriages, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, is deeply concerning and condemned in the report. Children in Afghanistan, especially girls and those from marginalized communities, face forced marriages, limited access to education, and severe poverty.
Bennett’s report emphasizes the responsibility of the Taliban and international actors to protect children from abuse and exploitation, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for their development. He calls for greater accountability measures to end impunity for those perpetuating these abuses and stresses the need for a legal framework that safeguards children’s rights under international law.
Widespread Repression and Violations of Free Expression
Human rights defenders, journalists, and media professionals, especially women, face routine threats, harassment, and arbitrary detention. The Taliban has implemented a series of restrictions that infringe upon the freedom of expression and association, deterring journalists and activists from speaking out against abuses. Raids on NGOs and civil society groups, including women’s rights organizations, have become routine.
The Rapporteur calls upon the international community to support Afghan civil society, especially those advocating for women’s and human rights, by providing platforms for Afghan voices to be heard. This support is essential in counteracting the Taliban’s systematic attempt to silence dissent and advocacy.
The Role of the International Community in Ensuring Accountability
Bennett’s report reiterates the urgent need for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, which includes meaningful representation for women, young people, and marginalized communities. The international community’s role in supporting accountability, providing humanitarian aid, and ensuring human rights protections in Afghanistan remains paramount. Bennett urges the UN and its member states to take decisive action, pushing the Taliban toward policies that respect international human rights obligations.
Additionally, the report emphasizes the importance of financial and political support for Afghan women’s rights organizations and calls for international measures to address the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. It urges that all aid be provided through independent channels to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable populations without Taliban interference.
Commitment to Justice and Redress
The report insists on justice and redress for the victims of gross human rights abuses to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation. Bennett calls for a comprehensive and independent investigation into these abuses, with a focus on gender-responsive and victim-centered justice. He also advocates for preserving evidence, ensuring accountability for perpetrators, and providing justice to the victims.
Richard Bennett’s report to the UN underscores the dire state of human rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. His findings expose a regime that actively undermines the rights of its people, particularly women, children, and minority communities. The international community faces a critical moment to reinforce its support for human rights in Afghanistan, pressuring the Taliban to implement changes in alignment with international standards and advocating for the dignity, safety, and fundamental freedoms of the Afghan people. The report concludes with a renewed call for the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, reaffirming their fundamental rights to life, freedom, and equality.
