Second year of Bente’s mission; Taliban’s accountability for human rights violations has become impossible
Bayan News – Richard Bente, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, says on the second anniversary of his mission that the Taliban continue to violate human rights and their accountability is impossible.
Bente, in a video message released on Wednesday (May 1) to mark the second anniversary of his mission in Afghanistan, states: “While my team and I continue to document and report abuses, impunity persists and accountability remains impossible.”
The UN special rapporteur emphasized the necessity of human rights for achieving peace, sustainable development, tackling inequality, and violence, stating: “During my mission, I witnessed how the denial of women’s rights has once again led the Taliban back to policies reminiscent of their 1990s.”
He stressed that even basic freedoms in Afghanistan have been compromised, there is no immunity, and a support system for peaceful resistance.
Bente, while calling on the Taliban to adhere to their human rights commitments, also urged the global community to push for better attention to human rights by the Taliban.
The UN special rapporteur continues in the video message: “Human rights should not only be on the political agenda of Afghanistan. Human rights should become the central focus of decision-making. Let us stand in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. The work we do will be judged.”
