UN Human Rights Council Launches Investigation into Afghanistan Violations
October 6, 2025
The UN Human Rights Council has launched a probe into serious human rights violations in Afghanistan, focusing on abuses under Taliban rule, particularly against women and girls.
The 47-country council in Geneva adopted a draft resolution introduced by the European Union, setting up an independent mechanism to gather, preserve, and analyse evidence of international crimes. The investigation aims to prepare files that could support future criminal proceedings.
“Four years since the Taliban takeover, the human rights situation has worsened amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis,” said Denmark’s ambassador Ib Petersen, who presented the resolution on behalf of the EU. The probe will document violations, preserve victims’ testimonies, and address long-standing impunity.
The resolution specifically condemns the Taliban for restricting women’s rights, including banning girls from studying after age 12, limiting women’s ability to work and travel freely, and curbing access to public spaces. Colombia’s ambassador highlighted that Afghan women and girls are facing systemic repression aimed at removing them from public life.
While the resolution passed without a vote, China dissociated itself, arguing it did not recognize progress made in Afghanistan’s stability and economic growth.
Human Rights Watch’s Afghanistan researcher, Fereshta Abbasi, said the investigation sends a clear message that evidence of crimes is being collected and those responsible may face justice in the future.
