·
A coalition of countries, led by Iceland and supported by Chile and South Africa, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to take decisive action to ensure accountability for past and ongoing human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
In
a joint statement, the countries urged the Council to establish an independent
investigative mechanism with a broad and comprehensive mandate. This initiative
is intended to complement the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan,
Richard Bennett.
Bennett
had previously warned that the Taliban's continued violations, particularly
against women and girls, have been emboldened by the lack of international
accountability. In his February report to the UNHRC, he called for a dedicated
investigative body to support efforts to hold
perpetrators accountable.
The
joint statement also underscored growing frustrations over the European Union’s
reluctance to spearhead the establishment of such a mechanism. Although the EU
has previously demonstrated leadership by strengthening the Special
Rapporteur's mandate, many countries now believe that a stronger approach is
necessary to address the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The
call for a robust accountability mechanism reflects the international
community’s commitment to justice and human rights in Afghanistan, ensuring
that victims of abuses are not forgotten.