KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will hold its 58th regular session from February 24 to April 4 in Geneva, where Afghanistan’s human rights situation under Taliban rule will be a key focus.
The Council will review reports detailing ongoing violations, including gender apartheid, suppression of freedoms, and forced displacement, as well as the Taliban’s treatment of minorities and political opponents.
On February 28, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. This session will examine the Taliban’s policies and their impact, with particular attention to restrictions on women’s rights, the silencing of dissent, and reports of extrajudicial killings.
The discussion will include contributions from human rights experts, activists, and UN officials, who will assess the Taliban’s record since their return to power in 2021.
Afghanistan will also be addressed under agenda item two, which focuses on country-specific human rights concerns.
The Council is expected to review evidence of forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and the dismantling of civil society organizations. Discussions will also cover the broader humanitarian crisis, including food insecurity and economic collapse, which have exacerbated suffering in the country.
The UNHRC session comes amid growing calls for accountability and international intervention. Human rights groups and activists continue to urge the UN to take stronger action against the Taliban’s oppressive policies.
The session will conclude in early April with the adoption of reports and recommendations. However, with the Taliban rejecting external oversight, it remains uncertain whether any measures taken by the Council will have a direct impact on the ground.
