Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, says the international community must not allow the Taliban’s repressive and discriminatory regime to be normalised.

Bennett made the remarks on Thursday, 29 October , in a report presented to the UN General Assembly, adding that the Taliban’s rule is destroying the lives of many Afghans, particularly women.

“Five years after the Taliban seized power, the group has shown no willingness to reverse its systematic violations of fundamental human rights. Instead, it has continued to deepen and formalise its repression,” he said.

Bennett stressed that the international community must stand with the people of Afghanistan, protect their rights and support their future.

The UN expert said the Taliban’s recent decrees had further undermined women’s rights.

The Special Rapporteur’s report highlighted arbitrary detention, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including sexual violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and civic space.

The report also expressed concern over persistent discrimination and abuse against marginalised ethnic, religious and linguistic communities, the persecution of LGBTQ people, and the exclusion of persons with disabilities.

He also said: “The four arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Taliban leaders mark an important step towards accountability.”

Bennett also called for increased humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Nearly five years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the international community has yet to take effective action to stop the group’s human rights violations.