UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has said that the human rights situation in the country has deteriorated drastically in the two years since the Taliban took control of the country. He said this “causes a great deal of concern,” particularly for women and girls.
In a video statement published by US Institute of Peace, Bennett said that over the past two years “the situation for women and girls is dire, and catastrophic, the rights have been more or less wiped out.”
“There are also other marginalized groups whose rights are causing concern, in particular minorities and children,” he said.
“We know as in the area of civil and political rights that there are extrajudicial killings, there is arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances,” Bennet added. “This is despite a so-called general amnesty by the Taliban [issued] soon after take over.”
He stated that there are also many concerns about the lack of rule of law.
“On the economic, social and cultural rights, there is widespread poverty due to the humanitarian situation and there is lack of education, there are problems with health services and as a whole, we have a lot of concerns about the situation,” he said.
Addressing a press briefing in the US on Tuesday, Jermi Laurence, a spokesman for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, hinted at the UN report about the killing and torture of former government officials and former security personnel by the Taliban and said that the high commissioner for human rights says the report presents a sobering picture of the treatment of the individuals affiliated with the former government and security forces of Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover.
“This is despite pledges by the de facto authorities that they will not be targeted. This is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” he added.
