Human Rights Watch said the resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday falls short of advancing accountability for serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban’s systemic oppression of women and girls.
Despite repeated appeals from rights organizations, the newly adopted resolution does not create a mechanism to hold perpetrators accountable, the group said.
On October 9, the Human Rights Council, led by the European Union, renewed the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan. While this extension underscores ongoing concerns, Human Rights Watch noted that it fails to establish a process to collect and preserve evidence of international crimes committed in the country—a key step in pursuing justice at institutions like the International Criminal Court and national courts.
In early September, 90 Afghan and international rights organizations urged UN member states to establish such a mechanism. Their appeals were echoed in a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which was presented to the Human Rights Council last month. The report highlighted “deeply entrenched impunity” for abuses committed during decades of conflict in Afghanistan, calling accountability “an essential pillar” for peace and stability. It recommended that any accountability initiatives be comprehensive, victim-centered, and gender-responsive, and emphasized the importance of collecting evidence to support future justice efforts.
Despite the resolution’s shortcomings, Human Rights Watch said it outlines a framework for future action. The resolution “acknowledges the need for further steps to advance accountability for past and ongoing international crimes,” the group said, including possibly through evidence collection and preservation. During the session, South Africa underscored the importance of this foundation, calling on the Council to build on the resolution in upcoming sessions.
As the Taliban’s repression intensifies, Human Rights Watch urged governments committed to human rights to act decisively. “It is critical for those claiming to support human rights and accountability to move from words to action,” the organization said, calling for the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism without further delay.
