Rights Groups Warn of Escalating Repression in Afghanistan Ahead of UN Human Rights Council Session

Rights Groups Warn of Escalating Repression in Afghanistan Ahead of UN Human Rights Council Session
————————————-
A coalition of Afghan civil society organizations and international human rights groups has warned of a serious deterioration in human rights conditions in Afghanistan ahead of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

More details in the following report:

In a joint statement, the organizations said repression and restrictions under the rule of the Taliban have intensified in recent months, urging the international community to take urgent action.

According to the statement, more than four and a half years have passed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, during which time the group has expanded what rights groups describe as systematic and institutionalized restrictive policies. The signatories said new orders and regulations issued by the Taliban authorities conflict with internationally recognized human rights standards and are enforced through strict punitive mechanisms.

The organizations noted that despite ongoing efforts by Afghan civil society groups, international human rights organizations, United Nations mechanisms and several governments, the overall human rights situation in Afghanistan has not improved and has reportedly worsened in recent months.

The statement also said the Taliban administration has dismantled many legal frameworks and policies that previously supported citizens’ fundamental rights since taking control in 2021. According to the groups, these measures undermine Afghanistan’s international commitments.

They noted that Afghanistan remains bound by several international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The organizations called on the UN Human Rights Council to adopt stronger measures and a more decisive stance to address ongoing violations and protect the rights of Afghan citizens.