Bennett Raises Concerns Over Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, has expressed concern over the human rights situation in the country in a new 19-page report, highlighting restrictions on education and healthcare, civil liberties, and the situation of women and girls, children and young people, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Bennett expressed concern that preventable hunger and malnutrition continue to threaten the health and lives of millions of children in Afghanistan. According to the report, nearly nine million children, or almost one in three, face severe hunger, while 3.7 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. The report also calls on the international community to ensure sufficient and sustainable funding for Afghanistan's humanitarian response and essential services. Another section of the report says that in 2025, 103 children were killed or injured as a result of cross-border shelling and airstrikes by Pakistani forces. Bennett called for prompt, independent and impartial investigations into attacks by Pakistan's armed forces, including an attack on the Omid drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. Mohammad Fayaz Safi, a political analyst, said: 'It is these neighboring countries that are given agendas by Western countries and implement them against our oppressed people. Children are killed here, malnutrition emerges, and war becomes a cause of immense suffering. These are steps toward the devastation of a country.' Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate says meetings on Afghanistan without its representative will not be effective. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, called on the United Nations to ensure Afghanistan is represented at meetings concerning the country. Mujahid said: 'Decisions made at these meetings can only be effective when representatives of the country are present and steps are taken to ensure accountability. If Afghanistan is not represented, a meeting or discussion about Afghanistan will not produce results.' Tafsir Siyahposh, a women's rights activist, said: 'These meetings can be effective if a genuine representative is selected from among the people. The representative could be from the Islamic Emirate government, but it would be better if someone were selected from among the people. Then we could say the meeting is beneficial.' On August 20, 2024, the Islamic Emirate announced that Bennett had been barred from entering Afghanistan over what it described as 'biased propaganda' and reports it considered unreliable. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate says meetings on Afghanistan without its representative will not be effective. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, has expressed concern over the human rights situation in the country in a new 19-page report, highlighting restrictions on education and healthcare, civil liberties, and the situation of women and girls, children and young people, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Bennett expressed concern that preventable hunger and malnutrition continue to threaten the health and lives of millions of children in Afghanistan. According to the report, nearly nine million children, or almost one in three, face severe hunger, while 3.7 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. The report also calls on the international community to ensure sufficient and sustainable funding for Afghanistan's humanitarian response and essential services. Another section of the report says that in 2025, 103 children were killed or injured as a result of cross-border shelling and airstrikes by Pakistani forces. Bennett called for prompt, independent and impartial investigations into attacks by Pakistan's armed forces, including an attack on the Omid drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. Mohammad Fayaz Safi, a political analyst, said: 'It is these neighboring countries that are given agendas by Western countries and implement them against our oppressed people. Children are killed here, malnutrition emerges, and war becomes a cause of immense suffering. These are steps toward the devastation of a country.' Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate says meetings on Afghanistan without its representative will not be effective. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, called on the United Nations to ensure Afghanistan is represented at meetings concerning the country. Mujahid said: 'Decisions made at these meetings can only be effective when representatives of the country are present and steps are taken to ensure accountability. If Afghanistan is not represented, a meeting or discussion about Afghanistan will not produce results.' Tafsir Siyahposh, a women's rights activist, said: 'These meetings can be effective if a genuine representative is selected from among the people. The representative could be from the Islamic Emirate government, but it would be better if someone were selected from among the people. Then we could say the meeting is beneficial.' On August 20, 2024, the Islamic Emirate announced that Bennett had been barred from entering Afghanistan over what it described as 'biased propaganda' and reports it considered unreliable.View the discussion thread.Sign up to receive the best of Tolo News daily