KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, urged Canada to sustain its efforts to improve human rights under Taliban rule during his recent six-day visit to the country.
In a statement on October 29, the UN Human Rights Office expressed Bennett’s appreciation for the Canadian government’s support in facilitating his visit. The Special Rapporteur arrived in Canada on October 20 to discuss Afghanistan’s human rights situation with Canadian officials.
Bennett praised Canada’s firm stance that normalizing relations with the Taliban must depend on improvements in human rights, particularly for women and girls. “I commend the Government of Canada for joining other nations to hold Afghanistan accountable for violations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and encourage further international support for this effort,” he stated.
He also called on Canada to maintain its commitment to welcoming Afghan refugees, including over 50,000 arrivals so far, and to advocate for safe asylum routes for those at risk. Bennett highlighted Canada’s crucial role in humanitarian efforts, emphasizing the need for continued life-saving initiatives while adhering to anti-terrorism measures that do not unintentionally obstruct organizations supporting human rights and humanitarian work on the ground.
During his visit, Bennett also met with Afghan migrants, civil society activists, journalists, and women’s rights advocates in Canada, who shared personal accounts of Taliban oppression. He also met with Afghan journalists and was recognized by the Afghan House of Freedom of Expression.
“I had the privilege of meeting inspiring Afghans in Toronto and Ottawa, including recently resettled refugees, activists, and journalists who shared experiences of discrimination and oppression under the Taliban,” said Bennett. “I heard from young women and ethnic minorities—Hazara, Uzbek, and Turkmen—who described the brutal treatment faced by their communities amidst a lack of cohesive international strategy to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan.”
While international support for Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is waning, Bennett called on Canada to sustain its commitment to essential aid, urging that compliance processes avoid impeding organizations working on human rights and humanitarian issues. “It is imperative that anti-terrorism compliance does not inadvertently hinder organizations focused on supporting human rights, feminist, and humanitarian efforts on the ground,” he said.
