Geneva– The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has warned that the Taliban’s continued repression risks turning Afghanistan into a “lost cause” unless the international community acts decisively.
Speaking at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Bennett described an alarming escalation of rights violations under Taliban rule, particularly against women and girls. He cited the introduction of “mahram cards” restricting women’s freedom of movement, reports of plans to curtail madrasa education for girls, and new censorship laws banning poems critical of Taliban leaders or those that promote love and relationships.
He also highlighted tighter controls on the media, including requirements for broadcasters to seek prior approval for content and a ban on commentary contradicting Taliban policies.
Bennett also raised concern about the forced return of Afghan refugees by some states, warning that Afghanistan is “not a safe place for involuntary return” and that deported Afghans face real risks of persecution, reprisals, or violence in breach of international law.
Since retaking power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, most forms of employment, and access to public spaces such as parks and gyms. Women have also been barred from working in national and international organizations unless accompanied by male guardians.
The group has tightened its control over free expression by closing independent media outlets, detaining journalists, and imposing strict censorship regulations. Civil society space has shrunk significantly, with activists and protesters facing harassment, arrests, and reprisals.
International bodies and human rights groups have described Afghanistan as the site of the most severe women’s rights crisis in the world. UN experts have previously warned that systematic abuses under Taliban rule may amount to crimes against humanity.
Bennett rejected portrayals of Afghanistan as beyond rescue, framing the crisis instead as a test of the international community’s principles. “Afghanistan is not a lost cause. It’s a test. A test of whether the world will stand firm against gender persecution. A test of whether human rights principles apply universally, or only when politically convenient,” he told the Council.
He urged governments to use “every tool” available, including sustained diplomatic pressure, stronger support for Afghan civil society, expanded humanitarian assistance, accountability measures, and challenges to the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law by religious scholars and Muslim-majority states.
The Special Rapporteur renewed his call for the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism to ensure accountability and deter further abuses, saying it would complement the work of his mandate, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and the International Criminal Court.
Concluding his remarks, Bennett stressed that the worsening human rights crisis is the result of choices by both the Taliban and the international community. “What is happening in Afghanistan, though serious and challenging, is neither inevitable nor irreversible… different choices – and actions – are possible,” he said
