A group of countries from different regions, led by Iceland and supported by Chile and South Africa, urged the United Nations Human Rights Council last week to take action to enhance accountability for past and ongoing human rights abuses Afghanistan. The joint statement called on council members to establish an independent investigative mechanism with a wide-ranging mandate to support the vital work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.
Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur, previously cautioned that the international community’s inability to hold the Taliban accountable for their abuses has strengthened their oppression of women, girls, and broader rights crackdown. In February, Bennett implored the Human Rights Council to urge nations to establish a specialized investigative body to aid in holding offenders accountable.
The joint statement expresses increasing frustration over the European Union’s reluctance to lead the council in establishing an accountability mechanism for Afghanistan, given its role as the “penholder” on the issue. Although the EU has been a key leader, notably in enhancing the special rapporteur’s mandate, there is an increasing acknowledgment that Afghanistan’s situation demands a stronger response.
Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghan and international civil society organizations have urged the Human Rights Council to establish an independent mechanism tasked with investigating and collecting, preserving and analyse evidence of grave human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. They emphasized that this mechanism could be essential for enhancing accountability for serious abuses, including the Taliban’s widespread oppression of Afghan women and girls. Additionally, it could significantly aid initiatives at the International Criminal Court and other legal efforts initiatives.
While acknowledging the necessity for enhanced accountability regarding international crimes in Afghanistan, the latest EU-led resolution did not propose such measures proposal.
Daily, Afghan individuals, especially women and girls, endure severe abuses, with evidence at risk of being lost or destroyed. The EU must do everything possible to ensure that offenders face justice, and creating a robust accountability system is essential. If the EU chooses not to act, the countries supporting this joint statement should take the initiative.
