Taliban should be encouraged to respect all human rights: UN rights chief

The top UN human rights official on Tuesday called on global powers and regional actors to use their influence with the Taliban to encourage respect for human rights for all, Anadolu Agency reported.

Opening a special meeting of the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said: “Islamic-majority countries in particular could share their successful experiences of implementing international human rights norms in their cultural and religious contexts.”

Bachelet said the Taliban’s rapid seizure of much of Afghanistan, including the capital, has raised fears of a return to the past and stoked desperation among many Afghans.

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“In recent weeks, my office has received harrowing and credible reports of the impact on civilians of violations of international humanitarian law, as well as violations and abuses of human rights, by the parties to the conflict,” she said.

They include, among others, summary executions of civilians and members of the Afghan national security forces who were not involved in combat at the time, she said.

They also include, she added, restrictions on women’s rights – including their right to move around freely and girls’ right to attend schools – recruitment of child soldiers, and repression of peaceful protest and expressions of dissent.