Afghan Women Lead Calls for Independent Mechanism to Hold Taliban Accountable

Geneva– Afghan women’s advocates, joined by UN experts and international rights bodies, urged the Human Rights Council today to establish an independent investigative or accountability mechanism for Afghanistan, warning that without such a tool the Taliban’s escalating abuses will continue unchecked.

At the Council’s 60th session in Geneva, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said such a mechanism would be vital for accountability. “One tool that would play an important role in ensuring accountability and in deterring further violations is an independent investigative mechanism,” he told delegates, stressing it would complement his mandate, the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and the International Criminal Court.