VANCOUVER, CANADA –The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett says that human rights in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate. He asked the global community to refrain from normalizing relations with the Taliban or legitimizing the group without an improvement in human rights situation.
Bennett presented his latest report on Thursday, February 29 at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. In the report, Bennett writes that two and a half years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, human rights in the country are still in a deteriorating condition.
“Women and girls are being erased from public life, peaceful dissent is not tolerated, violence and the threat of violence are used with impunity to control and instil fear in the population,” said Bennett, “this is compounded by an economic and humanitarian crisis that results in the denial of economic, social and cultural rights.”
Bennett said that there is a concern among many Afghan citizens that some members of the international community may be inclined to accept the current situation in exchange for relative security and promises to controlling terrorism and drug trafficking.
According to Mr. Bennett, customary international law obliges countries to consider the respect for human rights as a criterion for recognizing governments. He added that the Taliban’s horrific treatment of women and girls violates the principles of the United Nations Charter and fundamental norms and standards of international human rights.
Bennett emphasized that the Taliban are obligated to respect international human rights laws, especially treaties ratified by Afghanistan.
The group, however, has thus far fallen short in fulfilling such a duty.
Mr. Bennett says that the Taliban must immediately cease all forms of institutionalized discrimination against women and girls and reverse discriminatory policies and guidelines that restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls.
Activists and rights groups around the world are growingly building consensus that the Taliban’s treatment of women amounts to a crime against humanity of apartheid based on gender.
Despite such consensus, worries remain palpable that states around the world, including in the west, are prioritizing political expediency of working with the regime to address their national security interests.
Bennett advised the global community to refrain from normalizing or legitimizing the Taliban until there are consistent, measurable, and verified improvements in the human rights situation. He emphasized that the human rights of the Afghan people are no less than those of other countries and should not be abandoned.
The Taliban, however, has constantly rejected such comments from the outside world, accusing them of interfering in the group’s internal affairs.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, said that western countries abuse the issue of human rights.
The Taliban spokesperson posted a video of Gaza residents on his X, saying: “Richard Bennett and other Western hypocrites should stop abusing human rights and truly support human rights and stand against the oppression and terror of Israel.”
