Photo: UN Web TV

UN Rights Council Criticized for Not Establishing Accountability Mechanism for Afghanistan

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN –  Amnesty International criticized the UN Human Rights Council’s recent resolution on Afghanistan, saying it failed to establish an independent accountability mechanism for the country.

In a statement responding to the adoption of the resolution on October 10, the rights group stated that the council has once again failed to adequately support justice for the people of Afghanistan.

The resolution on Afghanistan, adopted during the council’s 57th session on Thursday, extended the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan for another year.

Through the resolution, the council expressed concern over the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly those affecting women and ethnic and religious minorities.

It urged the Taliban to reverse restrictive and discriminatory policies and practices, and end summary executions, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, collective punishments, and other crimes.

Amnesty International welcomed the extension of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate. However, it noted that despite repeated calls from civil society, victims, and survivors for stronger measures to promote accountability, the council has once again fallen short.

“The HRC has again shied away from sufficiently supporting justice for the people of Afghanistan who have placed their hopes in the international community,” said Smriti Singh, Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International.

“An independent international accountability mechanism that can identify perpetrators as well as investigate, collect, and preserve evidence is critical to effectively address past and ongoing violations as well as the pervasive impunity of over forty years that continues today,” he added.

Similarly, Human Rights Watch (HRW), another international human rights organization, expressed dissatisfaction with the council’s failure to establish an accountability mechanism for Afghanistan.

In a statement on Thursday, the rights group noted that despite appeals from 90 Afghan and international rights groups, the resolution does not include a mechanism to promote accountability for the serious human rights abuses committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“As Taliban oppression worsens, it is critical for governments claiming to support human rights and accountability to move from words to action. They should establish an independent accountability mechanism to address past and ongoing abuses in Afghanistan without further delay,” HRW said.