KABUL (Khaama Press): Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan, stated on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly that women and girls in Afghanistan have lost trust in the global community. According to him, the international community has betrayed women in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bennett made these remarks during a session titled “Combatting Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan,” which took place on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly. He called for practical measures to end gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
In this session, he aligned with women’s rights activists’ call for practical action, emphasizing that the current situation in Afghanistan can only be rectified through practical actions, not just condemnations and expressions of sympathy.
According to him, women and girls in Afghanistan have been left isolated, and a sense of mistrust towards the global community has developed among Afghan women. He added that “the international community has betrayed them.”
Richard Bennett used the terms “gender apartheid” and “sexual abuse” in his report on the status of women and girls in Afghanistan, which was presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June of this year. He used these terms to describe the depth of the tragedy in Afghanistan.
He said continuing this situation will lead to a “crime against humanity”: “Sexual abuse is considered an international crime, but gender apartheid is not. Recognizing gender apartheid can become a fundamental principle for creating international laws that do not legitimize countries that do not adhere to this principle.”
Since the Taliban assumed control in Afghanistan, they have enforced oppressive policies, severely curbing women’s rights to education, employment, and social engagement.
Despite widespread international and domestic criticism, they have yet to reopen schools beyond the sixth grade and universities for Afghan women.
Global community betrays Afghan women’s trust
