UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has warned that international engagement with the Taliban must not lead to political legitimacy without measurable improvements in human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Presenting his latest report to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, October 29, Bennett said repression, discrimination and restrictions on fundamental freedoms have become increasingly entrenched five years after the Taliban returned to power.
He urged the international community to ensure that diplomatic engagement does not come at the expense of accountability, justice or equality.
Bennett expressed particular concern over the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limitations on employment and restrictions on participation in public life.
He also warned that recent Taliban decrees have weakened protections against violence, made it more difficult for women to escape abusive relationships and permitted child marriage.
The UN expert’s report highlighted allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence. It also raised concerns about discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Bennett called for stronger international accountability mechanisms to investigate alleged human rights violations in Afghanistan. He welcomed international judicial efforts and urged governments to support investigations and legal proceedings against those responsible for serious abuses.
He further warned that the continued exclusion of girls from education could have devastating long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s development, particularly for the mental health and future opportunities of young women.
Addressing recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Bennett urged both sides to protect civilians and ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.
Despite his criticism of the Taliban’s policies, Bennett stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian assistance and international support for Afghanistan’s education, healthcare, independent media and civil society.
He called on the international community to stand alongside the Afghan people while ensuring that engagement with Taliban authorities remains tied to meaningful progress on human rights.
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