Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has stated that the Taliban discriminate against Afghanistan’s ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities and must put an end to this practice. He warned that such actions by the Taliban heighten tensions across the country.
Presenting his report to the UN General Assembly yesterday, Bennett said Afghanistan is experiencing the “most severe” and “most systematic” assault on gender equality in the modern era.
He also raised concerns about the long-term consequences of Taliban policies amid growing repression, deepening poverty, and widespread hopelessness. Bennett warned that an entire new generation risks becoming radicalized.
“What is happening in Afghanistan today will not remain confined within its borders,” he cautioned.
Bennett stressed that dismantling the Taliban’s institutionalized system of gender-based oppression and addressing the country’s multitude of human rights crises require the international community to respond with seriousness, principled action, and sustained engagement—rather than normalizing the Taliban as de facto authorities.
He emphasized that women must be included in all decision-making processes and political frameworks.
Bennett also reported mistreatment and even enforced disappearances of former Afghan government officials. He urged the international community to increase humanitarian assistance—particularly for Afghan women.
