It warned of intensifying gender persecution, an increase in corporal punishment, forced disappearances and attacks against former officials despite a declared amnesty.
There are also increasing restrictions on freedom of the press and civil society, and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including forced evictions affecting Hazara communities.
Restrictions on women and girls continue
She noted that no Taliban edict restricting women’s rights has been revoked.
“Many Afghan women are denied the right to work,” she said, pointing to recent measures that prevent Afghan women working for the UN from entering UN compounds. “This is a serious violation of fundamental rights and the principles of equality and non-discrimination of the United Nations Charter.”
Bennett also criticized the sharp reduction in humanitarian and civil society funding, which he said is removing “the last lines of protection” for a population already facing widespread deprivation.
She urged governments to recommit to long-term, sustained support, particularly to Afghan and women-led organizations.
Protect refugees from harm
The Special Rapporteur further warned about the mass forced return of Afghan refugees, urging all States to respect the international legal principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution or serious harm.
While the situation remains dire, Bennett highlighted signs of progress in accountability.
These include the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against senior Taliban leaders and the recent establishment by the Human Rights Council of an independent investigative mechanism to collect and preserve evidence of serious crimes for future trials.
“It’s not a lost cause”
“Afghanistan is not a lost cause,” Bennett told delegates, highlighting that accountability is an “essential part” of building a future rooted in justice, equality and the rule of law.
“Turning our back now would not only betray the Afghan people: it would undermine the foundations of our shared international system.” said.
It urged States to engage with Afghanistan “in a principled manner that avoids normalization of Taliban rule until demonstrable, measurable and independently verified improvements in the human rights situation, particularly for women and girls, are demonstrated.”