Rights groups call for extension of Afghanistan special rapporteur mandate
Human Rights Watch and a number of human rights organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, amid continuing concerns over repression and sweeping restrictions, especially against women and girls.
According to Human Rights Watch, the request was made in the framework of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, and delegations have been asked to support the continuation of dedicated reporting and interactive dialogue on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
The organisation has also called for the preparation of a dedicated report on the situation of marginalized ethnic, religious and linguistic groups in Afghanistan. Under this request, a separate interactive dialogue should also be held to examine the situation of these groups.
Human Rights Watch has also stressed the need to begin operationalising the “Independent Investigation Mechanism for Afghanistan” as soon as possible. The organisation said human rights violations continue in Afghanistan and that repression, gender-based persecution and sweeping restrictions on the rights of women and girls are among the main concerns about the country’s situation.
The organisation added that during the special rapporteur’s interactive dialogue on 7 and 8 September 2026, a number of countries raised questions about further measures to address the situation. The UN Human Rights Council is one of the organisation’s main bodies for reviewing and following up on human rights violations in different countries.
