KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has renewed its call on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent body to investigate and ensure accountability for serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
In a statement delivered to the Council’s 59th session on Monday, HRW said the mechanism is vital for investigating serious human rights violations and supporting broader international justice efforts.
These efforts, HRW noted, include ongoing cases at the International Criminal Court, the CEDAW initiative toward a potential case before the International Court of Justice, and other avenues for justice.
The rights group extended its gratitude to UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett for his latest report, which detailed widespread human rights abuses under Taliban rule, particularly targeting women and girls.
Bennett’s report, presented to the council on Monday, recommended the creation of an independent accountability mechanism for Afghanistan.
“We urge the Council to heed the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation for the establishment of an additional independent accountability mechanism without further delay,” HRW said in its statement, calling on all states to work together to implement the Rapporteur’s recommendations.
Rights organizations, including HRW and Amnesty International, along with civil society groups and activists, have long advocated for such a mechanism. They argue that the proposed mechanism should be mandated to investigate, collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of serious human rights abuses committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
While the Council has held numerous meetings and adopted resolutions on Afghanistan in recent years, it has yet to establish the independent body that HRW and other groups say is urgently needed.
