22 international organisations and 85 civil society organisations, including Amnesty International, the World Coalition Against Torture (OMCT), Human Rights Watch (HRW), called on the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to urgently establish an independent international accountability mechanism for rights violations in Afghanistan at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

 

CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM

 

In the letter published on the official website of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), it was reminded that in Afghanistan, especially since 2021, there have been many calls from Afghanistan and international organisations to the Human Rights Council to investigate crimes, human rights violations and ill-treatment under international law and to establish an accountability mechanism.

 

The letter emphasised that the accountability mechanism to be established would be a fundamental tool in the fight against entrenched impunity in Afghanistan.

 

It was emphasised that the mechanism to be established would contribute to the ongoing or future initiatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice and third countries. It was emphasised that due to the armed conflicts that have been going on in Afghanistan for 47 years, two generations have been trapped between these conflict cycles.

 

VIOLENCE AGAINST THE OPPOSITION

 

The letter noted that in the last 4 years, the Taliban have continued to impose arbitrary, illegal and comprehensive restrictions on human rights in disregard of Afghanistan's international obligations. "All public criticism and dissenting voices against the Taliban are met with harsh, arbitrary punishments and violent reprisals," the letter said, stressing that many have been subjected to multiple layers of exclusion, including discrimination, illegal detention, blackmail, torture and killing.

 

DEMANDS

 

The letter called for the urgent establishment of an independent international accountability mechanism at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, to be held between 8 September and 3 October 2025, and listed the following demands:

 

"*Investigate all allegations of past and ongoing violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as crimes under international law, including the crime of gender persecution against women, girls and LGBTQI+ people;

 

*Consistent with international standards, collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence, and prepare files, of such past and ongoing violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based crimes, in view of any future legal proceedings and accountability efforts;

 

*Identify, where possible, individuals alleged to have committed such violations and abuses, including those amounting to crimes under international law, with a view to ensuring they are held accountable;

 

*Support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in national courts through the use of universal and other forms of jurisdiction, and through international judicial institutions, including ongoing and possible future proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

 

*Make recommendations with a view to ending impunity and ensuring accountability, including access to justice, truth and reparations for victims and survivors;

 

*Present recommendations to tackle impunity for ongoing and past crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations to the UN Human Rights Council and to other UN bodies, such as the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly; and,

 

*Collaborate with and complement the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan and other UN bodies and mechanisms."

 

The session also emphasised the renewal and support of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and called for the support of international organisations.