KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, is set to present his new report today at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The report highlights Afghanistan’s “deep human rights crisis”, particularly the Taliban’s widespread and systematic attack on the entire civilian population, targeting women and girls through restrictions on freedom of movement, education, employment, healthcare, and expression.
Bennett emphasizes that these measures reflect an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity, and exclusion, amounting to crimes against humanity.
Since 2021, the Taliban have systematically dismantled legal and institutional safeguards, replacing the neutral rule of law with targeted policies aimed at suppressing women, girls, and gender minorities.
He warns that Taliban interpretations of Sharia are “neither fundamentally nor practically aligned with Islamic teachings”, and while they claim to “protect” women’s rights, the reality is a framework that entrenches male domination and excludes women from public life.
“I am firmly of the view that gender apartheid most fully encapsulates the institutionalized and ideological nature of the abuses in question,” Bennett said.
He urged countries to pursue measures at the International Court of Justice and support the International Criminal Court’s investigations.
This report comes amid broader pressure, including ICC arrest warrants issued in early 2025 against senior Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity related to the gender-based oppression of Afghan citizens