UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett Identifies Taliban Restrictions as Major Barrier to Afghan Youth’s Aspirations

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, has identified the restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration as a significant obstacle preventing Afghan youth from continuing their education, finding job opportunities, and achieving financial independence. Speaking at the event “Afghan Youth at a Crossroads: Rights, Aspirations, Challenges, and Opportunities” held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he emphasized that without the active participation of young people in education, employment, and decision-making, achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan remains unlikely.

Based on a report by the United Nations Population Fund, Bennett noted that approximately one-third of Afghanistan’s population is aged between 10 and 24, with the majority under 25 years old. However, many of these young individuals have been deprived of the right to higher education, job opportunities, and public services. He pointed out that young women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the Taliban’s discriminatory policies; over 2.6 million girls have been barred from secondary education since 2021, and many women have been excluded from universities and the labor market.

The UN rapporteur also addressed the challenges facing young men, including unemployment, economic insecurity, and restrictions on personal freedoms, expressing his opposition to limitations on scientific education and critical thinking. Bennett stressed that Afghan youth experience these restrictions in different ways due to factors such as gender, ethnicity, religion, place of residence, and economic status.

He called on the international community to assist Afghan youth by investing in areas like scholarships, technical and vocational training, digital skills development, and the creation of international employment opportunities. Bennett also urged the Taliban administration to end its discriminatory policies, lift restrictions on women’s education and employment, and guarantee freedom of expression and access to information.

This report comes amid ongoing educational and social deprivation faced by young people, particularly girls, raising serious concerns about human rights violations and the long-term impact on Afghanistan’s future.