Rights Groups Call for Extension of UN Human Rights Council Monitoring on Afghanistan

Nearly 100 Afghan civil society organisations, along with a number of international human rights groups, have called on member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to fully extend the mandate of the council’s special rapporteur on Afghanistan and continue special monitoring of the situation of women and girls.

In a letter released after the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, the signatories called for stronger monitoring of the human rights situation in Afghanistan. They also requested a separate report on the situation of marginalised ethnic, religious and linguistic groups and communities.

Much of the appeal focuses on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. According to the signatories, girls remain barred from secondary and university education, while women face restrictions on work, participation in public institutions and social activities.

The letter also refers to some new decrees and laws in 2026 which, according to the groups, have further increased legal restrictions on women. The signatories stressed that the independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan should become operational as soon as possible and that an interactive dialogue on the situation of these groups should also be held.

The organisations also expressed concern over Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic crisis and the large-scale return of Afghans from neighbouring countries and elsewhere. According to them, some returnees, including women, members of oppressed minorities, human rights defenders and people linked to the former Afghan government or foreign forces, may be at risk of abuse and mistreatment.

In another part of the letter, concern was also raised over escalating border clashes between the Taliban administration and Pakistan. The signatories stressed respect for international humanitarian law and independent investigations into allegations of violations of that law.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the World Organisation Against Torture are among the international human rights organisations that signed the letter. The UN Human Rights Council follows the human rights situation in the country through its special rapporteur on Afghanistan and other mechanisms.