GENEVA — A group of United Nations human rights experts has called for the extension of Richard Bennett’s mandate as the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, emphasizing the critical role his work plays in monitoring and advocating for human rights in the country.
In a statement released Thursday during the 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, the experts underscored the importance of Bennett’s mission, which involves gathering information from various stakeholders, engaging with Afghan authorities, and monitoring rights violations.
“The rapporteur’s work is essential to assessing the human rights situation in Afghanistan and promoting meaningful improvements,” the statement said. “We hope that with the continuation of this mandate, effective steps can be taken to enhance human rights conditions in the country.”
Bennett’s position was established following the U.N. Human Rights Council’s adoption of Resolution 48/1 on October 7, 2021, which created the mandate of a special rapporteur to monitor human rights in Afghanistan.
His appointment came after the dissolution of the previous U.N. human rights monitoring body for Afghanistan in 2005. Bennett assumed office on May 1, 2022, and has since been responsible for documenting rights violations, providing recommendations, and advocating for accountability.
Bennett is a veteran human rights expert who has held key positions within the U.N. and international human rights organizations.
He previously served as head of the Human Rights Service at the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and has worked on issues such as civilian protection, transitional justice, child rights, disability rights, and the protection of human rights defenders.
Throughout his career, he has contributed to U.N. missions in Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, South Sudan, and Afghanistan and has served as a consultant to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. He has also held roles as chief of staff for the U.N. Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka and special adviser to the assistant secretary-general for human rights in New York.
According to the U.N. Human Rights Council’s resolutions, the mandate of the special rapporteur includes:
Reporting and Recommendations – Providing regular updates on Afghanistan’s human rights situation and offering policy recommendations.
Human Rights Advocacy – Assisting in the implementation of Afghanistan’s human rights commitments under international treaties.
Civil Society Engagement – Supporting civil society organizations and activists working to promote human rights.
Documentation of Violations – Collecting and preserving evidence of human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
Briefing U.N. Bodies – Presenting regular reports to the U.N. Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on the state of human rights in Afghanistan.
As part of his work, Bennett is expected to seek, receive, and analyze information from all relevant stakeholders, conduct country visits, and engage with Afghan authorities and civil society organizations.
Despite his mandate, Bennett has faced increasing restrictions from the Taliban. In August 2023, the group banned his entry into Afghanistan, a move widely seen as an effort to block independent human rights assessments.
The call for extending Bennett’s mandate comes amid worsening human rights conditions in Afghanistan, including severe restrictions on women and girls, crackdowns on civil society, and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
