You Left Afghanistan In A Hurry, But Don't Forget It, Says UN Special Rapporteur
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, said that countries that pledged to support Afghanistan and then left the country "in a hurry" should not forget Afghanistan.
Bennett added that the international community must have a coherent strategy and action plan on Afghanistan.
In a recent interview with United Nations Radio in New York, which aired on Thursday, October 31, He said that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, especially for women, girls, ethnic and religious minorities, the media, and civil society. He stressed that space in Afghanistan is shrinking.
Bennett also said that nowhere in the world are women and girls treated in such a "horrific" way as in Afghanistan. He said that during his report to the UN General Assembly in New York, he would ask the UN member states not to forget Afghanistan.
Bennett told the international community, "Don't forget Afghanistan. The countries that had committed themselves to Afghanistan abandoned it in a hurry. These countries have a responsibility not to forget Afghanistan."
The UN human rights official said that the international community should have a coherent international strategy on Afghanistan in which the interests of the Afghan people are prioritised over the interests of regional or specific countries.
Referring to the recommendations and suggestions of the United Nations Special Coordinator, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Richard Bennett stressed on the need to develop a roadmap and action plan for the future of Afghanistan that includes women, civil society, and even the Taliban.
The United Nations on Monday released a detailed report by Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Bennett will present the report to the UN General Assembly on Friday, November 1.
The report mentions the repression of women in protest against the Taliban's compulsory hijab. According to Bennett's report, some female protesters were taken to a Taliban police station where they were subjected to verbal and physical violence.
In his new report, he said that some "credible sources" testified about the sexual harassment and rape of women in Taliban prisons.