KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, will present a report on the right to health for women and girls in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council next week.
In a post on X on Friday, Bennett said that following his recent visit to Pakistan, he is preparing for the session scheduled for February 26. He added that he will also deliver an oral statement highlighting “concerning recent human rights developments” in Afghanistan.
Women and girls in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan continue to face severe restrictions on education, work, and healthcare. In some provinces, women cannot visit health centers without a male guardian (mahram), and male doctors are prohibited from treating female patients. Shortages of female doctors further limit access.
Bennett was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council in April 2022 and has consistently criticized Taliban policies, particularly those affecting women and girls. He has submitted multiple reports documenting abuses and calling on the UN and international community to maintain pressure on the regime and avoid actions that could legitimize its authority.
The Taliban barred Bennett from entering Afghanistan in mid-2024. Since then, he has continued monitoring the situation from abroad, visiting neighboring countries, meeting with Afghan activists and journalists both in exile and inside Afghanistan via online platforms, engaging with diaspora communities, and participating in meetings and workshops focused on Afghanistan.
The forthcoming report is expected to provide a detailed overview of the barriers Afghan women and girls face in accessing healthcare and to highlight broader human rights violations under the Taliban, reinforcing calls for international attention and action.
