Nearly 100 Afghan and international human rights and civil society organizations have called on member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to fully extend the mandate of Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
The call was made ahead of the discussion on Afghanistan at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The session is being held in Geneva from September 7 to October 7, 2026. Richard Bennett also presented his latest report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan on September 7 and 8.
In a joint letter, the organizations called for continued monitoring, documentation, and reporting on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. They urged the Human Rights Council to continue dedicated reporting on the rights of women and girls, as well as interactive dialogue on the issue. The signatories also called for Afghan women to be given opportunities to participate directly in these discussions.
According to the published report, the signatories include organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the World Organisation Against Torture, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, and the International Service for Human Rights.
The organizations also called on the Human Rights Council to prepare a dedicated report on the situation of ethnic, religious, and linguistic communities and other marginalized groups in Afghanistan, followed by an interactive dialogue on the issue.
In another part of the letter, the organizations called for the independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan to be operationalized as soon as possible. The mechanism was established under Human Rights Council Resolution 60/2 in October 2025. The signatories called for sustainable funding and regular reporting on the progress of its establishment and activities.
In their letter, the signatories referred to issues including arbitrary detention, prolonged detention without contact with the outside world, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, and pressure on journalists, human rights defenders, and critics. They also expressed concern about the situation of women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities, and other vulnerable groups. These points represent the views and allegations of the organizations that signed the letter.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is currently holding its 63rd session, and Richard Bennett’s report, titled “Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan,” has been presented under document number A/HRC/63/22. The report examines human rights developments in Afghanistan from November 2025 to August 2026.
The call by nearly 100 organizations to extend Richard Bennett’s mandate comes as discussions continue at the Human Rights Council over continued international monitoring of the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
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