Amnesty International has criticized the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) recent resolution on Afghanistan, stating it falls short of creating an independent international accountability mechanism.
The resolution, which was adopted on Thursday, extends the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, to investigate human rights abuses. However, Amnesty International contends that the measure does not adequately address the need for accountability in the country.
Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia, emphasized the importance of Bennett’s role but expressed disappointment over the lack of a comprehensive mechanism to address crimes under international law. “The HRC has again shied away from sufficiently supporting justice for the people of Afghanistan who have placed their hopes in the international community,” Singh said. “While it is notable that the UN HRC resolution recognizes the need to investigate, collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of serious human rights violations in Afghanistan, it falls short of establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that can actually perform these functions.”
The UNHRC resolution highlights the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, calling for the accountability of violators and emphasizing the Afghan people’s right to self-determination. Despite this, Singh argued that the council missed an opportunity to take meaningful action that could deter further abuses, particularly as the Taliban’s restrictions on the rights of women and girls intensify.
Singh called for the establishment of an independent mechanism with the authority to identify perpetrators, as well as to investigate, collect, and preserve evidence of violations. Such a mechanism, she suggested, is essential to confronting the pervasive impunity that has plagued Afghanistan for over forty years.
She also pointed out that the resolution fails to support Afghan activists, especially women’s rights defenders and journalists, who continue their work at significant personal risk. “This is the furthest that the HRC has come towards acknowledging the importance of a comprehensive approach to accountability for past and ongoing violations,” Singh said. “It is imperative that UN member states build on this recognition and move towards establishing an independent international accountability mechanism at the earliest opportunity.”
Following the resolution’s adoption, Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed gratitude on X (formerly Twitter), pledging to carry out his strengthened mandate impartially. “I will independently and impartially carry out the strengthened mandate, engage to make a difference for Afghans, and document and report on violations,” he wrote.
