Human Rights Advocates Push for Renewal of Richard Bennett’s Mandate in Afghanistan

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for the extension of Richard Bennett’s mandate during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, emphasizing the need to focus on the situation of women and minorities in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International Advocates for Richard Bennett’s Continued Mandate in Afghanistan

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, along with dozens of civil society organizations, are advocating for the formal extension of Richard Bennett’s mandate as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan. This request was made during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, which commenced on Monday, September 30.

In a statement released by Amnesty International, all member states of the Human Rights Council were urged to support a proposed resolution by the European Union aimed at extending Mr. Bennett’s mandate. The organization underscored the necessity of focusing on the plight of Afghan women and girls and called for the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism approved last year.

Challenges Faced by Ethnic Minorities and Restrictions on Women as Priority Issues

Amnesty International also highlighted the importance of providing dedicated reports addressing the challenges faced by ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities and urged the Human Rights Council to prioritize interactive dialogues with these groups. This request comes amidst widespread restrictions imposed on Afghan women.

The 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council began with the participation of 47 member states on September 16 and is set to continue until mid-October. It is anticipated that in the early days of October, council members will discuss and vote on resolutions concerning the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Call from Nearly 100 Human Rights Organizations for Independent Monitoring

Alongside these developments, nearly 100 domestic and international human rights organizations, including the World Organization Against Torture, issued a joint statement on September 18 emphasizing the non-negotiable necessity of global independent monitoring. These organizations stressed the importance of documenting human rights violations and the presence of protesting women in global forums, especially as some countries seek to enhance political and economic ties with the Taliban.

Human rights defender Najiba Sanjar noted that although Richard Bennett cannot change the situation overnight, his documentation plays a crucial role in preventing the normalization of human rights violations against Afghan women and girls on an international scale, thus keeping the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan from being forgotten in global policies.